Fighting win by Mr Big in Garden City Trophy

SINGAPORE:  Sept 23, 2012
 
MR BIG holds off all challengers for his fifth group win - SNTC photo

Super consistent sprinter MR BIG (Elusive Quality - Basamaat by Danehill) chalked up his fifth group success and his third Group 3 win this season when he prevailed in a blanket finish in the Garden City Trophy at Kranji here today.

Taking the lead from the start, the Australian gelding was headed by the KrisFlyer International Sprint (in which MR BIG finished second) ATO in the home stretch but he fought back tenaciously to regain the advantage to win by a head AHEAD of the evergreen WAIKATO.

AROWANA DOT COM, third in the Emirates Singapore Derby last time out, beat ATO for third.

MR BIG has now raced 17 times for 9 wins and eight placings, earning just over S$1.1 million in prizemoney. Superb return for a horse who cost just A$21,000 as a yearling.

"He’s an amazing horse," said winning jockey Stephen Baster. "He fights better when there is a horse around him as it is harder for him to be beaten that way."

Trainer Michael Freedman, who has now 10 group wins this season, said a final decision will be made layer whether to send him to Hong Kong for the Sprint in December. "he’s a speed horse and there is not a lot around for him here."

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 TIONG BAHRU PARK HANDICAP,  CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1600M

9

 Daring Journey C Brown A Ng

1

14

 Merlin S Yeoh I Santana

2

3

 Carnival Star B Marsh Z Zuriman

3

5

 Vitalico M Walker R Shafiq

4

2

 FORT CANNING PARK STAKES,  INITIATION - 1100M (POLY)

1

 Devil's Cut S Burridge S Baster

1

3

 Fei Yue S Baertschiger J Powell

2

2

 Moova Bullet S Lam Chavez

3

6

 Telescopic D Koh Saifudin

4

3

 WEST COAST PARK HCP,  CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

3

 Video Call H K Tan G Cheyne

1

4

 Mr Epic S Baertschiger J Powell

2

7

 Duty Free O'Hara Saifudin

3

6

 That'stheone B Dean Aslam

4

4

 NATIONAL ORCHID GARDEN HCP, MAIDEN - 1200M (POLY)

7

 Lady Shark O'Hara I Santana

1

9

 Wairakei T Kieser M Airy

2

5

 Gold Halo M Clements H K CHeng

3

3

 Don Inaki P Shaw B Vorster

4

5

 SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS HANDICAP,  CLASS 3 - 1200M

2

 Rush M Freedman J Moreira

1

3

 The Big Dee S Burridge S Baster

2

8

 Collect The Cash B Dean Aslam

3

6

 Glownight Racer B Marsh Z Zuriman

4

6

 GARDEN CITY TROPHY,  SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1200M

5

 Mr Big M Freedman S Baster

1

2

 Waikato L Laxon D Beasley

2

12

 Arowana Dot Com D Koh Saifudin

3

1

 Ato P Shaw B Vorster

4

7

 EAST COAST PARK STAKES,  NOVICE - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

1

 Royal Tudor B Marsh J Moreira

1

8

 Super Kenny P Shaw B Vorster

2

3

 Royal Style Z L Mok Chavez

3

9

 Super Shadow M Freedman S Baster

4

8

 GARDENS BY THE BAY HANDICAP,  CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1600M

2

 Mongolian Star S Gray J Moreira

1

10

 American Tycoon S Chua H K Cheng

2

3

 Noble Knight H K Tan T Rehaizat

3

4

 Mesti Boleh S Yeoh M Firdaus

4

9

 MOUNT FABER PARK HANDICAP,  CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLY)

12

 Pasha Khan D Kok J Moreira

1

2

 Not Simple Z L Mok T Rehaizat

2

9

 Humor Town S Chua Chavez

3

3

 Fish Rabbitfish S Lam T Affandi

4

10

 PUNGGOL PARK HANDICAP,  BENCHMARK 74 - 1600M

10

 Phantom Knight B Dean I Santana

1

2

 Devonshire L Laxon J Moreira

2

9

 Lindt B Dean B Vorster

3

8

 Green Jacket H Takaoka Zaki

4

11

 HORTPARK HANDICAP,  CLASS 4 - 1400M

10

 Affirmation M Walker J Moreira

1

5

 Dynamic Dan S Burridge Z Zuriman

2

12

 Oasis Charm S Yeoh I Santana

3

14

 Sir Fleetwood L Laxon G Cheyne

4