Dan Excel bags SIA Cup double

SINGAPORE:  May 17, 2015
 
DAN EXCEL leads all the way to complete a double in the Singapore
Airlines International Cup - SNTC photo

Hong Kong-trained DAN EXCEL's love affair with Singapore continued at Kranji tonight when he scored back-to-back win in the S$3mil Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m).

The Irish gelding has not tasted success again in four starts since winning the Group 1 event 12 months ago but showed a return to form with a last-start third in the Group 1 Champion Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on May 3.

Stepping up on that effort, DAN EXCEL went to the front from his wide barrier and never surrendered his lead, with the 2013 winner MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) also of Hong Kong making a strong bid to overhaul him. DAN EXCEL, ridden by Tommy Berry as was the case last year, won by half a length.

DAN EXCEL had finished second in his first appearance in the Cup in 2013.

Singapore Gold Cup winner QUECHUA did best of the local contingent, finishing third.

"It's pretty unbelievable winning this again. It's hard to describe how I feel right now," said Berry whose brother Nathan was struck down by a virus whilst riding in Singapore and subsequently passed away a month before the Cup last year. "Brother Nathan was with me again, and it's significant to win here in Singapore."

DAN EXCEL, trained by John Moore, become the first horse to win the Cup twice. Moore himself is the first multiple winner of the race and now has a hat-trick as he also saddled MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) in 2013.

"It was a great effort to bring him back to this level especially after his throat operation in Sydney," said Moore, referring to the gelding's time off from racing (11 months) after his win last year. "We backed him off and when I spoke to the vets, they were confident he would be back, and I would say he was in even better condition than last year."

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

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 707 STAKES

1

 CLASS 4 - 1400M

15

 BHASKARA S Gray Z Purton

1
  (4 b.a.g Shaft - Imperial Lady by Skilful Star)  

12

 Rosado B Marsh J Moreira

2

1

 Catch Me Great M Walker M Rodd

3

10

 North Atlantic Ice C Brown J Powell

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 747 STAKES

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

4

 WE ARE GENIUS D Kok Saifudin

1
  (3 b.a.g Saxon - Serious Matter by Carry A Smile)  

12

 Winning Cause P Shaw N Juglall

2

9

 Newlands S Gray CW Brown

3

2

 Razzostella S Baertschiger J Powell

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 727 STAKES

3

 CLASS 4 - 1600M

12

 WELL DONE D Kok N Juglall

1
  (3 ch.nz.g Falkirk - Gold Cloud by Truly Vain)  

2

 Bob L Laxon  Moreira

2

10

 Laughing Gravy C Brown M Rodd

3

7

 High Troja M Yusof T Rehaizat

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 757 STAKES

4

 NOVICE - 1200M

11

 DIVIDED HOUSE C Brown J Moreira

1
  (3 b.a.f I Am Invincible - Boston by Zoffany)  

3

 Famous Artist D Koh M Nunes

2

8

 Lizaz S Gray CW Brown

3

5

 Morales S Burridge K A'Isisuhaii

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS 310 STAKES

5

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1400M

6

 THESE STREETS C Brown B Prebble

1
  (5 b.nz.g Elusive City - Conquering Beauty by I Conquer)  

2

 Fraajilistic M Freedman J Moreira

2

9

 Smart Idea B Marsh M Rodd

3

4

 Alpha Centauri M Walker M Nunes

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS 340 STAKES

6

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1800M

12

 SEBROSE M Walker M Nunes

1
  (4 ch.a.g Sebring - Bramble Rose by Shinko King)  

1

 Ideal Guide L Laxon J Moreira

2

11

 Mighty Warrior M Freedman CW Brown

3

4

 Om M Walker R Zawari

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 777 STAKES

7

 OPEN STAKES - 1600M

1

 BORN TO FLY S Gray J Powell

1
  (7 b.a.g Mossman - Conclude by Danzero)  

13

 Cheetah On Fire B Marsh Z Zuriman

2

6

 Martin L Laxon Saifudin

3

12

 Alexandra Palace P Shaw MM Firdaus

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS 380 STAKES

8

 KRANJI STAKES A - 1200M

7

 HAPPY MONEY HW Tan R Shafiq

1
  (4 br.a.g Econsul - Gem Of Gems by Peintre Celebre)  

9

 Flak Jacket S Baertschiger Kellady

2

8

 Hypernova B Marsh M Nunes

3

4

 Trudeau B Marsh M Rodd

4
 

 

 KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT

9

 INTERNATIONAL GROUP 1 - 1200M

2

 AEROVELOCITY P O'Sullivan Z Purton

1
  (6 b.nz.g Pins - Exodus by Kaapstad)  

6

 Emperor Max S Gray CW Brown

2

1

 Lucky Nine C Fownes B Prebble

3

9

 Kiwi Karma M Clements M Nunes

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP

10

 INTERNATIONAL GROUP 1 - 2000M

2

 DAN EXCEL J Moore T Berry

1
  (7 b.ir.g Shamardal - Love Excelling by Polish Precedent)  

1

 Military Attack (IRE) C Fownes Z Purton

2

6

 Quechua P Shaw CW Brown

3

3

 Meiner Frost N Takagi M Matsuoka

4
 

 

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS 330 STAKES

11

 CLASS 3 - 1200M

9

 WIMBLEDON M Freedman CW Brown

1
  (3 br.a.c Snitzel - Ditas by Don Eduardo)  

3

 Gobi Ranger S Burridge M Rodd

2

4

 Golden Curl S Gray R Rueven

3

11

 Rising Empire D Koh TH Koh

4

15

 Stirling L Laxon J Moreira

4
  *Dead-heat for 4th