The Hornet too strong in final challenge

SINGAPORE,  27 July 2008
 
THE HORNET races past BIG MAVERICK to win the
Three-Year-Old Challenge final leg - SNTC photo

THE HORNET denied odds-on favourite BIG MAVERICK a clean sweep of the Three-Year-Old Challenge series with a well deserved victory over the latter in the S$450,000 final leg over 1600m at Kranji here today.

The Singapore Group 2 event with elevated status and increased prizemoney this season looks to be at the mercy of BIG MAVERICK, who cruised to victory in the first two legs over 1200m and 1400m.

But THE HORNET (High Yield - Millennium Miss by Flying Spur), fourth in the first leg and a fast-finishing second in the second leg, had the last say over a distance he had won twice before.

THE HORNET defeated BIG MAVERICK by three quarters of a length with another Laurie Laxon runner ACE AMIGO third in the 12-horse field.

The Three-Year-Old Challenge success was the first group win for trainer Douglas Dragon in six years and the first for Gavin McKeon at Kranji in his penultimate week in Singapore.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1200M

1

 Simpson P Shaw R Fradd

1

3

 Brilliant Knight L Treloar N Callow

2

4

 Chilli Padi Khoo Woodworth

3

2

 Northern Spirit S Gray G McKeon

4

2

 CLASS 5 - 1200M

5

 D'Mighty Bull J Meagher D Beasley

1

1

 Aspirant Eager K C Yeoh Razali

2

7

 Chin-Ho M Yusof Saimee

3

4

 World Top B Dean K K Ng

4

3

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M

1

 August Moon M Clements B Vorster

1

2

 Jeram Future L Treloar Zaki

2

12

 Rook K C Yeoh S John

3

8

 Victory Conqueror S Chua G McKeon

4

4

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1200M

4

 Magic Leg B Marsh N Callow

1

12

 Military Plume B Dean Saimee

2

1

 Bay Of Island S Gray E Legrix

3

9

 Digitalis M Clements B Vorster

4

5

 CLASS 4 - 2200M

7

 Empire Crown L Laxon Din Azis

1

2

 Golden Flame L Treloar Zaki

2

11

 Conundrum H Takaoka B Vorster

3

1

 Euro Express B Dean Chavez

4

6

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1600M

2

 Arbitrator S Burridge N Callow

1

1

 Mission Supremo S Gray Soo

2

5

 Rena Cross M Clements G McKeon

3

8

 Astra Torres H Takaoka B Vorster

4

7

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M

6

 True Blue D Koh Woodworth

1

3

 Zinku S Burridge T Affandi

2

9

 Great Arc D Hill Chavez

3

1

 Crown Horse B Marsh N Callow

4

8

 BENCHMARK 97 - 1200M

2

 Lim's Zerperb J Meagher N Callow

1

6

 Zizou P Shaw R Fradd

2

1

 Breckenridge L Laxon J Powell

3

8

 Coup Leader B Dean S John

4

9

 THREE-YEAR-OLD CHALLENGE (3rd Leg) - 1600M

4

 The Hornet D Dragon G McKeon

1

1

 Big Maverick L Laxon Saimee

2

2

 Ace Amigo L Laxon N Callow

3

9

 Quiero Bailar P Shaw B Vorster

4

10

 CLASS 5 - 1600M

1

 Silent Dragon Khoo R Fradd

1

2

 Valiant Master C Leck M Ewe

2

10

 Payback Time D Koh A Ng

3

3

 Daggers Point S Gray TR Barnabas

4

11

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1200M

2

 Royal Suit S Burridge N Callow

1

9

 Grand Street C Brown J Powell

2

6

 Maxi Marine S Gray Chavez

3

10

 Happiness Come S Burridge T Affandi

4