Better Life triumphs in Singapore Gold Cup

SINGAPORE:  Nov 11, 2012
 
BETTER LIFE coasting to an easy win in the Gold Cup - SNTC photo

Just a couple of months ago, Japanese trainer Hideyuki Takaoka was forced to retire EL DORADO due to injury. The Japanese gelding had won Singapore's richest domestic race, the S$1.35mil Gold Cup, three times in 2008, 2009 and last year.

But up stepped BETTER LIFE (Smarty Jones - Quiet Life by Sunday Silence). The Australian mare ended the winning run of SUPER EASY in the Kranji Mile last month and went into the 2200m Gold Cup as the second highest-rated runner in the capacity field.

English jockey Alan Munro, who won the Epsom Derby on GENEROUS in 1991, rode a copy book race on the four-year-old who was never far off the pace hugging the rails.

But Munro quickly switched her to the outside making the home bend and hit the front passing the 400m. She immediately made a breakaway and held off the fast-finishing MAURICE UTRILLO to win by one length. The favourite DEEP POCKETS was third in the race which is sponsored by Longines this year.

"This horse can handle any distance. We were a little worried about her jumping in distance today before the race," said Takaoka of the mare who was racing beyond 1600m for the first time today.

"But Alan and I discussed that we would like to race her in a more handy position. It was a great ride by Alan and full credit must go to him."

BETTER LIFE was purchased for A$150,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale and has now chalked up six wins in 10 starts, earning just over S$1.2 mil in prizemoney.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 GOOD DEEDS STAKES,  CLASS 4, DIV 3 - 1400M

2

 Wassaic L Dragon S Alif

1

6

 Jeram Clipper C Brown D Beasley

2

8

 Golden Dominator M Clements J Moreira

3

9

 Lucky Rise Khoo A Munro

4

2

 COMMUNITY STAKES,  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

5

 Bale Star P Shaw B Vorster

1

13

 Thebuzzdownunder B Dean Aslam

2

9

 Morris H W Tan I Santana

3

14

 Zac Seduction C Brown D Yendall

4

3

 BIG HEARTS STAKES,  CLASS 4 - 1600M

10

 Winning Success S Chua B Vorster

1

9

 Green Jacket H Takaoka A Munro

2

5

 Raziyya Of Sydney M Freedman C Newitt

3

1

 Irish Coffee S Burridge D Beasley

4

4

 GENEROSITY STAKES,  INITIATION - 1600M

6

 Dream On P Shaw B Vorster

1

4

 Musketeer H Takaoka A Munro

2

9

 Golden Chalice B Dean D Yendall

3

7

 Dragon Player D Hill D Bonilla

4

5

 HUMANITY STAKES,  BENCHMARK 74 - 2200M

8

 Make A Return H K Tan Sam

1

4

 Bee Ahead M Clements S Baster

2

2

 Martin L Laxon D Beasley

3

1

 Lightning Thuef C Brown C Newitt

4

6

 KINDNESS STAKES,  CLASS 3, DIV 2 - 1200M

6

 Foxtrot Hotel C Brown J Moreira

1

5

 Seligi S Baertschiger S H Low

2

4

 Peaceful Warrior D Kok I Santana

3

8

 Raging Storm S Gray S John

4

7

 CHARITY STAKES,  CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M

14

 Power And Glory B Dean D Yendall

1

10

 Danny L Laxon J Moreira

2

4

 Sacred Emblem S Burridge M Firdaus

3

2

 Dynamic Dan S Burridge S Baster

4

8

 PHILANTHROPY STAKES,  GRADUATION - 1200M

1

 Wilkinson Khoo Z Zuriman

1

6

 Flying Wild B Dean S Baster

2

5

 Baby Face H W Tan Saimee

3

9

 Super Kenny P Shaw B Vorster

4

9

 GOODWILL STAKES,  KRANJI STAKES B - 1400M

5

 Dujardin L Laxon D Beasley

1

6

 Feisty Leo M Walker J Moreira

2

1

 Rafaga H K Tan W X Wong

3

7

 Totality M Clements I Santana

4

10

 BENEVOLENT STAKES,  CLASS 3, DIV 1 - 1200M

5

 Awakened D Kok J Moreira

1

8

 Damo P Shaw Saimee

2

4

 Running Tall P Shaw B Vorster

3

1

 Born To Fly S Gray S John

4

11

 LONGINES SINGAPORE GOLD CUP,  SINGAPORE G1 - 2200M

2

 Better Life H Takaoka A Munro

1

9

 Maurice Utrillo P Shaw B Vorster

2

5

 Deep Pockets C Brown J Moreira

3

15

 Tenzing C Brown C Newitt

4

12

 SHARE AND CARE STAKES,  CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M

1

 Manahara D Hill A Munro

1

5

 Jackpot B Dean I Santana

2

2

 Convict S Gray S Baster

3

3

 Mr Epic S Baertschiger J Powell

4