Meteor Mike wins after 34 months, retires

SINGAPORE:  Sep 4, 2015
 
METEOR MIKE (centre) holds off KNIGHT WAGER (outside)
and MAJESTIC MOMENTS (inside) in his final race - SNTC photo

Seasoned campaigner METEOR MIKE bowed out of racing on a winning note at Kranji here tonight.

As the nine-year-old has not tastes success since November 2012, the South African gelding started at long odds in the Benchmark 83 - 1400m handicap on the turf.

With promising apprentice Wong Chin Chuen in the saddle, METEOR MIKE raced wide in fourth spot early but stole a run at the home bend to lead into the straight.

But the race favourite MAJESTIC MOMENTS did not make it easy for the veteran galloper, challenging the leader in the home stretch. KNIGHT WAGER flashed home on the outside to make it a three-way photo near the post.

METEOR MIKE prevailed by a short head from KNIGHT WAGER with another short head to MEJESTIC MOMENTS.

"He wasn’t supposed to retire tonight, but after that win, I've decided: That was his last race," said trainer David Hill who managed six wins with the gelding after original trainer Basil Marcus had achieved one win with him.

Marcus won once race from three starts in South Africa with METEOR MIKE before bringing him to Singapore.

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

1

 CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3 SATELLITE PRINCE O'Hara N Juglall

1
  (4 ch.a.g Flying Spur - Hella Good by Thorn Park)  
11 Flaming Fireheart S Yeoh R Rueven

2
4 Tim L Laxon M Rodd

3
5 Balestra O'Hara Saifudin

4
 

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1400M
1 WINNING CAUSE P Shaw N Juglall

1
  (3 ch.am.g Giant's Causeway - Salut D'Amour by Danehill Dancer)
12 Special Force HK Tan J See

2
3 Marine Treasure S Burridge M Esposito

3
8 Magstock C Brown A Munro

4
 

3

 CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
6 LIM'S BATTLE S Burridge Soo

1
  (4 br.a.g Blevic - Go Lizzy by Statue Of Liberty)  
1 Platoon HW Tan A Munro

2
2 Sky Eleven Khoo N Juglall

3
7 Singsurat C Brown CC Wong

4
 

4

 KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1400M
7 LUCKY STRATEGY B Dean B Parnham

1
  (5 b/br.nz.g Elusive City - La Chamane by Desert Sun)  
9 Ravoux S Gray P Dellorto

2
6 Get Going M Clements CC Wong

3
4 Perfect Challenger HW Tan Chavez

4
 

5

 MAIDEN - 1400M
8 GOLD CROWN C Brown R Shafiq

1
  (3 b.ir.g Holy Roman Emperor - Medicean Star by Galileo)  
12 Toobigtofail D Koh TH Koh

2
9 Chips S Gray R Rueven

3
1 Go Lance M Freedman M Rodd

4
 

6

 KRANJI STAKES D - 1800M
8 PUSAKA S Gray R Shafiq

1
  (5 b.a.g Dane Shadow - Favourite Way by Strartegic)  
12 Brother Bay L Dragon TR Barnabas

2
3 Tequila Shot P Shaw B Vorster

3
1 Tip Of Borneo L Laxon Kellady

4
 

7

 BENCHMARK 83 - 1400M
9 METEOR MIKE D Hill CC Wong

1
  (9 b.saf.g Mogok - Moondust by Spaceship)  
7 Knight Wager M Clements B Vorster

2
3 Majestic Moments P Shaw N Juglall

3
10 Hot Gold C Brown K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

8

 KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1400M
2 BRAHMS AND LISZT M Walker R Shafiq

1
  (6 br.nz.g Coats Choice - Symphony by Kaapstad)  
1 Fast Edition S Burridge M Rodd

2
7 Tenma HW Tan T See

3
9 Just Name It C Brown CC Wong

4
 

9

 BENCHMARK 67 - 1400M
11 GILT COMPLEX O'Hara CC Wong

1
  (4 b.nz.g Gold Centre - San Ysabeel by Zabeel)  
9 Poseidon C Brown A Munro

2
1 Chase M Walker R Shafiq

3
6 Northern Boss M Clements J See

4