South African trainer Basil
Barcus got off the mark in Singapore when FLYING WEST scored a first-up
victory in the Class 3 - 1400m sprint at Kranji tonight.
It was the ninth runner for
the former champion jockey-turned-trainer since sending out his first runner
in Singapore last month.
Marcus paid A$120,000 for
FLYING WEST (Flying Spur - Boardwalk Angel by Bletchingly) at the sales in
Australia and the gelding started 2 times for him in South Africa for three
wins and four placings.
Ridden by Sean Cormack,
FLYING WEST settled second behind the pace from the start, hit the front
150m out and held on to beat the fast-finishing NEWFOUNDLUCK.
The win was a huge relief
for Marcus who rode with great distinction all over the world during his
days in the saddle. "The
first win is always a huge relief for any trainer. I wouldn’t say he was a
certainty but he was by far the best chance of a win I’ve had thus far," he
said after the race.
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