Better Than Ever returns a winner

SINGAPORE:  Feb 20, 2011
 
BETTER THAN EVER survives a scare to win the Three Rings
Trophy for the second year running - SNTC photo

BETTER THAN EVER returned to racing after his first career defeat in the Singapore Gold Cup last November to capture the Three Rings Trophy for the second consecutive season at Kranji here today, but not giving his legion of fans a scare 300m out.

Just as the four-year-old ranged alongside the pacemaker TEN TEN LAI, MERCHANT threw in a challenge on his outside and headed him momentarily.

But once jockey Saimee Jumaat showed BETTER THAN EVER (French Deputy - Songfest by Unbridled's Song) the stick, the champion responded and pulled away in the closing stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

It was the 14th win in 15 outings for the Australian gelding who now heads for Dubai to contest the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (1800m) on March 26.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 NINETYFIVE EMPEROR 2003 HANDICAP,  MAIDEN - 1800M

9

 Multi Warrior D Kok H K Lim

1

2

 Kobe Top Gun B Marsh O Placais

2

5

 Silent Faith S Burridge R Stewart

3

1

 Datchet House S Gray J Moreira

4

2

 SJY SHYSTER 2002 STAKES,  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

5

 Befledged K C Yeoh B Vorster

1

14

 Totality M Clements T R Barnabas

2

1

 Mandingo T Kieser J Moreira

3

6

 Born To Fly S Gray V Duric

4

3

 HUAT CHAI 2009 HANDICAP,  CLASS 3 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)

2

 Lago Bay Baertschiger J Powell

1

1

 Williams L Laxon T H Koh

2

6

 Afriend Baertschiger J L Li

3

8

 Blitz M Clements T R Barnabas

4

4

 ARENTI 2006 HANDICAP,  CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M

1

 Dejayal M Walker T H Koh

1

4

 Reel Schmick S Burridge R Stewart

2

2

 My Friend Jo Baertschiger J Powell

3

6

 Rough Dance K C Yeoh S Cormack

4

5

 BIG EASY 2005 HANDICAP,  CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

2

 Good Day H Takaoka Chavez

1

10

 Recycle Triumph H K Tan T H Koh

2

8

 Fuku's Pet S Chua N Cunha

3

3

 Chan's Electra D Kok J See

4

6

 TOP SPIN 2008 HANDICAP,  CLASS 4 - 2200M

8

 Steadfast Warrior C Brown Saimee

1

2

 Hint S Burridge Chavez

2

9

 Supreme General Khoo S John

3

5

 April's Knight S Gray R Fradd

4

7

 ADELAIDE YEARLING STAKES,  2YO - 1000M (POLYTRACK)

3

 Cash Luck M Freedman V Duric

1

1

 Kaiser T Kieser Soo

2

7

 Beyonce L Laxon Saimee

3

5

 Lucky Eighty Eight M Yusof Y F Leong

4

8

 REALLY GOOD 2004 HCP,  CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

1

 Knight Kingdom D Koh J L Li

1

2

 Zac Heaven M Freedman T R Barnabas

2

9

 That's Cash M Yusof S John

3

6

 Gateaway B Dean Aslam

4

9

 THREE RINGS TROPHY - 1400M

1

 Better Than Ever L Laxon Saimee

1

4

 Merchant C Brown J Moreira

2

3

 Black Ice S Burridge V Duric

3

5

 Ten Ten Lai K C Yeoh N Cunha

4

10

 BETTER THAN EVER 2010 HCP,  BENCHMARK 83 - 1600M

3

 Alacarte S Burridge S Cormack

1

2

 Switchblade S Burridge J Moreira

2

4

 Benji's Glory S Burridge R Stewart

3

1

 Newfoundluck K C Yeoh N Cunha

4

11

 WORLD DELIGHT 2007 HANDICAP,  CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M

4

 Raging Storm S Gray V Duric

1

8

 Cowboy Z L Mok N Cunha

2

1

 Magic Leg B Marsh A Feiruz

3

6

 Shinkansen S Chua S John

4