Dicton off the mark in Seristine Cup

SINGAPORE:  Aug 17, 2018
 
DICTON racing away in the Seristine Cup at Kranji tonight - SNTC photo
 

Despite being unplaced in his first six starts in Singapore, DICTON still started favourite in the S$80,000 Seristine Cup over 1600m on the polytrack at Kranji here tonight.

Having raced in much tougher company earlier, perhaps it's time for the English gelding who had raced in France and an invitation race in Hong Kong to shine.

And shine he did. Partnered by Michael Rodd for the first time in a race (Rodd had only previously ridden him in trials), DICTON came from a long way back to in the Class 3 event to win drawing away by 2 3/4 lengths.

DICTON won six races in three seasons in France, including the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleu at Chantilly and the listed Prix Omnium II at Saint-Cloud. But he was also Group 1-placed twice: third in the French Derby and third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

It has taken him a while to find his former self but DICTON should be winning in better company from now on.

"We will set him for the Gold Cup. He arrived as a five-year-old stallion and needed gelding," said trainer Cliff Brown. “He just needed racing to get fit and find his rhythm again. He won a very nice race tonight and let’s hope he holds that form."

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
9 ROCKET FIGHTER L Dragon A Munro

1
  (5 ch.nz.g Zacinto - Mufin Coup by Elusive City)  
11 Cool Cat D Hill O Placais

2
12 Ultimate Killer CT Kuah N Juglall

3
6 Thunder Cat M Yusof T See

4
 

2

 CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1 MASTER OF MALIBU R Le Grange B Vorster

1
  (4 b.arg.g Master of Hounds - Malibuwed by Malibu Moon)  
4 Prince Alexander D Hill M Rodd

2
3 Host The Nation ZL Mok Zaki

3
6 Across The Sea H Takaoka O Placais

4
 

3

 MAIDEN - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2 REIGN O'Hara WH Kok

1
  (5 b.nz.g Power - Beejay Belle by Perfectly Ready)  
7 Thomas De Lago D Koh CC Wong

2
6 D'Great Star D Kok M Ewe

3
10 High Street J Saimee M Nizar

4
 

4

 CLASS 4 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5 ANGEL HALO H Takaoka M Rodd

1
  (4 b.j.g King Halo - Morning Run by Manhattan Cafe)  
2 Turf Princess DL Freedman O Placais

2
6 Hooga Net Khoo B Vorster

3
3 Jacks Secret M Walker V Duric

4
 

5

 CLASS 4 (PREMIER) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3 SOUTHERN DRAGON O'Hara AK Lim

1
  (5 b.a.g Turffontein - Aly's Affair by Colonial Affair)  
9 Sun Princeps D Koh A Munro

2
4 Unconquered S Gray I Amirul

3
5 Why Not D Meagher T See

4
 

6

 SERISTINE CUP
CLASS 3 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5 DICTON C Brown M Rodd

1
(5 b.e.g Lawman - Saying by Giant's Causeway)
6 Letitgo D Meagher G Boss

2
4 Southern Spur J Saimee A Munro

3
11 Carnelian H Takaoka O Placais

4
 

7

 KRANJI STAKES C (SW) - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
8 SILKINO D Hill O Placais

1
  (5 b.a.g Congrats - Sheer Silk by Fasliyev)  
5 Sir Isaac C Brown M Rodd

2
6 Elite Power M Walker R Zawari

3
1 Kratos D Kok Saifudin

4
 

8

 CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4 NATURAL IMPULSE D Meagher Saifudin

1
  (7 ch.a.g Conatus - Open Slather by Last Tycoon)  
2 Best Wishes KS Tan CC Wong

2
8 King Of War J Peters O Placais

3
3 Lonhro Gold C Brown M Rodd

4