Narrow win by Excavator in Canada Cup

SINGAPORE:  Feb 17, 2012
 
EXCAVATOR gets up on the outside to nose out ATO in the
Canada Cup - SNTC photo

The midas touch of champion jockey Joao Moreira worked wonders on EXCAVATOR as the four-year-old snatched a thrilling win in the Canada Cup, an open handicap over 1200m, at Kranji here tonight.

Winner of four of his first seven starts in the lower classes, EXCAVATOR (Happy Giggle - Honey Bouquet by Last Tycoon) has found the going a little tougher when up against group and open class company last four runs, although he did finish on board three times including a creditable fourth to ARGY BARGY in the Paititi Gold Trophy (1200m) last July.

That changes when ridden for the first time by Moreira tonight. However, having won his previous races when up with the pace, the Australian gelding had to do it the hard this time after he missed the kick and himself in the rear early.

But EXCAVATOR was able to cut down the leaders with every stride in the home stretch and got up in the shadows of the winning post to beat the favourite ATO by a nose.

The win brought his earnings to just over S$317,000, a fantastic return for a horse who cost just A$10,000 as a yearling. 

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 MAPLE LEAF STAKES, CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M

4

 Money Bee Khoo R Shafiq

1

1

 Caition S Chua I Santana

2

14

 Good Day Baertschiger Chavez

3

13

 Winning Dan S Chua S John

4

2

 FAIRMONT SINGAPORE CUP,  INITIATION - 1600M

10

 Spinning Success M Clements D Beasley

1

7

 The Rude Warrior M Freedman S Baster

2

8

 Prize Fighter P Shaw B Vorser

3

6

 Moerock H Takaoka A Munro

4

3

 TD SECURITIES CUP,  CLASS 4 - 1600M

4

 Deep Pockets C Brown D Beasley

1

10

 Street Legal B Marsh J Farook

2

3

 Forgiven L Laxon G Cheyne

3

7

 Foreign Exchange L Laxon S Baster

4

4

 RBC CUP,  BENCHMARK 70 - 1200M

2

 Dollhouse Baertschiger S H Low

1

5

 Mulan H Takaoka A Munro

2

1

 Always Happy P Shaw R Zawari

3

6

 Mary's Success M Clements Saifudin

4

5

 MANULIFE CUP,  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

5

 Bring More Money Khoo M Ewe

1

1

 Emblessed K C Yeoh I Santana

2

8

 Positive Thinking P Shaw B Vorster

3

12

 Gusha B Marsh G Cheyne

4

6

 BLACKBERRY CUP,  CLASS 3 - 1400M

2

 Meteor One D Hill O Placais

1

9

 Iluminado S Burridge Kellady

2

8

 Let's See Action P Shaw G Cheyne

3

11

 Tarankali O'Hara A Munro

4

7

 CANADA CUP,  OPEN - 1200M

8

 Excavator Z L Mok J Moreira

1

4

 Ato P Shaw B Vorster

2

10

 Mr Big M Freedman S Baster

3

7

 Happy Everybody S Burridge M Firdaus

4

8

 HJM ASIA CUP,  CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M

9

 Silent Power L Dragon Soo

1

8

 Trap D Koh Au

2

10

 Super Knight B Dean T H Koh

3

14

 Sacred Prince D Hill B Vorster

4

9

 CANADIAN CHAMBER STAKES,  CLASS 4 - 1200M

13

 Zav Velocity L Dragon J Moreira

1

7

 Black Rain Baertschiger J Powell

2

2

 Big Gallant M Walker R Shafiq

3

3

 Phantom Knight B Dean T H Koh

4