Olympic Anthem hits right note in Singapore

SINGAPORE:  Jun 19, 2015
 
OLYMPIC ANTHEM battles to victory for his second win in
Singapore - SNTC photo

Although he won three races from 10 starts as a three-year-old, OLYMPIC ANTHEM just fell short in the group races in Queensland.

But the New Zealand gelding is raising hope for his owners China Horse Club Stable that he might fare better in Singapore after notching his second win in four starts in the Class 3 - 1100m sprint on the polytrack at Kranji here tonight.

Installed as the favourite, OLYMPIC ANTHEM came from just off the pace and battled it out with the two front runners SMART PEOPLE and BLACK FURY before winning by a neck.

OLYMPIC ANTHEM won his Singapore debut back in January and was beaten a neck in his last start in Class 3.

"He has all the ability in the world but he is as headstrong as they come," said trainer Michael Freedman. "He tends to get a little keen in his races. But he has a good turn of foot and if he can settle into a good spot, he can go on and finish off from there."

"He’s a difficult horse to ride but tonight he was very good. I just had to keep him happy and he will decide when he wants to run," said winning jockey Michael Rodd.

OLYMPIC ANTHEM, who cost NZ$150,000 as a yearling, won two races at Doomben and one at Ipswich and finished fourth in both the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) and Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400) at Eagle Farm.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE:   Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position
 

1

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

3

 ROMA H Takaoka Zaki

1
  (5 br.a.m Stormberg Carlson - Relic by Quest For Fame)  

8

 Lady Shark O'Hara T See

2

1

 Happy Saga HW Tan R Zawari

3

5

 Beat To Quarters D Hill Aslam

4
 

2

 INITIATION - 1200M

10

 ASTROSPEED M Clements N Juglall

1
  (2 gr.a.g Murtajill - Flexibility by Viscount)  

5

 Picasso D Kok Z Zuriman

2

3

 Dominy O'Hara R Zawari

3

13

 Terms Of Reference P Shaw B Vorster

4
 

3

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

7

 DRAGON NINETYNINE HW Tan J See

1
  (5 b.a.g El Cumbres - Salacious by Covetous)  

8

 Lucky Strategy B Dean Aslam

2

4

 Good Buddy O'Hara T See

3

11

 Princeton O'Hara A Feiruz

4
 

4

 MAIDEN - 1400M

4

 PERFECT CURIOSITY ZL Mok J See

1
  (3 b.nz.g Electronic Zone - Molly 'O by O'Reilly)  

9

 Flying Neko HW Tan K A'Isisuhairi

2

7

 Brother Bay L Dragon M Esposito

3

12

 Lady Power H Takaoka Zaki

4
 

5

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1800M

4

 TITANIUM M Freedman CW Brown

1
  (3 br.nz.g Tavistock - Zanetta by Centaine)  

5

 Laughing Gravy C Brown M Rodd

2

1

 Sebrose M Walker R Shafiq

3

10

 Brad L Laxon B Vorster

4
 

6

 MAIDEN - 1600M

2

 AMAZING L Laxon J Powell

1
  (4 br.nz.g Danroad - Montwest by Montjeu)  

5

 Lim's Mirage S Burridge Soo

2

3

 Orion S Gray CW Brown

3

11

 Handsome bab O'Hara Saifudin

4
 

7

 CLASS 3 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

2

 OLYMPIC ANTHEM M Freedman M Rodd

1
  (4 ch.nz.g Starcraft - Fire Song by Senor Pete)  

11

 Black Fury T Kieser A Munro

2

3

 Smart People HW Tan Chavez

3

5

 Pure Tactics HK Tan Aslam

4
 

8

 KRANJI STAKES D - 1800M

9

 OVER EASY S Burridge R Fiddhaus

1
  (6 br.nz.g Darci Brahma - Southern Cry by Kaapstad)  

2

 Super Joe P Shaw N Juglall

2

1

 Imperial Fighter C Brown A Munro

3

5

 Percius S Gray CW Brown

4
 

9

 CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

4

 NORTHERN BOSS M Clements J See

1
  (3 b.nz.g Postponed - Magical Forest by Woodman)  

11

 The General P Shaw B Vorster

2

1

 Golden Tomahawk M Freedman J Powell

3

12

 Nova Warrior ZL Mok R Shafiq

4