Double for Sacred Croix as Hakim hits four

SINGAPORE:  Feb 13, 2021
 
SACRED CROIX storming away to victory in the main event - SNTC photo
 

SACRED CROIX, who returned to winning ways four weeks ago after drawing a blank in 2020, defied a double promotion to take the Class 1 - 1400m handicap at Kranji here today.

Two years ago, after finishing unplaced in his debut the season before, SACRED CROIX went on a roll to win four consecutive races. The son of Savabeel then found one to beat in the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) and Group 2 Stewards Cup, and was a creditable fifth in the Derby.

SACRED CROIX subsequently failed to finish in the money until his runaway win in a Class 3 - 1200m sprint last month.

With the double promotion, the six-year-old enjoyed a significant drops in the weights, from 54.5kg to 47.5kg and took full advantage of that light impost to came from a long way back early to win by 1 1/4 lengths, thanks to a superb ride by bang-in-form apprentice Hakim Kamaruddin who stuck to the rails and only switch out in the final 300m to go after the leader.

Just a week after posting a personal best four-timer, the Kelantan lad has done it again with another four winners, now leading the table with 13 winners in the new season.

"The horse has struck a lot of wet tracks. He also went too quickly through the grades and lost his way," explained trainer Mark Walker on SACRED CROIX's lost of form since the Derby in 2019. "He had a nice spell and has come back in good shape. He is stronger and carries a bit of condition again."

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

1 

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
14 VALENCIA S Gray M Lerner

1
  (5 b.nz.g Sweet Orange - Divinity by Woodman)  
7 Takhi J Lim WH Kok

2
3 Mighty Vain L Khoo R Iskandar

3
9 Saturday M Clements S Shafrizal

4
 

2

 OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1 RICVELO J Ong L Beuzelin

1
  (4 b.a.g Toronado - Kurylenko by Exceed And Excel) M
5 Master Sommelier S Baertschiger J Powell

2
11 Malibu Beach R Le Grange T Krisna

3
12 Marcus Antonius M Walker K Hakim

4
 

3

 BLISSFUL OX STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
8 ENTERTAINER M Walker K Hakim

1
(4 b.a.g Zoustar - Laughing by Distorted Humor)
3 Radiant Success T Fitzsimmons M Lerner

2
4 Al Green S Gray L Beuzelin

3
9 Supermax J Lim S John

4
 

4

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
8 PERFECT D Meagher T Krisna

1
  (5 br.a.g Playing God - Dawinner by Oratorio (AUS))  
1 Lim's Unique D Meagher K Hakim

2
2 Big Day J Tan T See

3
14 Silver Way J Ong J van der Merwe

4
 

5

 MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1 SUN TREK D Koh K Hakim

1
  (4 b.a.g Lonhro - Berengaria by Commands)  
10 Kakadu D Meagher S John

2
5 Rocket Ryane R Le Grange L Beuzelin

3
8 Wishuponastar J Peters M Nizar

4
 

6

 PROSPERITY OX STAKES
CLASS 4 - 2000M
13 MUSTENGO M Walker K Hakim

1
(5 b.nz.g Minstrel Court - Zabba by Zabeel)
9 Gold Reward C Brown I Saifudin

2
3 Wond Trail H Takaoka M Lerner

3
4 Special Ops J Ong J See

4
 

7

 FORTUNE OX STAKES
CLASS 3 - 1200M
11 HEARTENING FLYER M Clements L Beuzelin

1
(4 b.nz.g Excelebration - Bandolera by Dehere)
13 Wecando S Gray T See

2
6 Spirit Of Big Bang M Clements S Shafrizal

3
4 Siam Warrior J Peters K Hakim

4
 

8

 CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3 DECRETO KY Young T See

1
  (7 ch.nz.g Red Giant - Wandane by Danehill)  
4 Super Great J Lim R Iskandar

2
8 High Limit J Tan I Saifudin

3
1 Miracle T Fitzsimmons K Hakim

4
 

9

 GOLDEN OX STAKES
CLASS 1 - 1400M
10 SACRED CROIX M Walker K Hakim

1
(6 b/br.nz.g Savabeel - Croix Du Sud by Howbaddouwantit)
4 Muraahib D Logan CC Wong

2
2 Fame Star L Khoo M Nizar

3
8 Super Dynasty DL Freedman R Iskandar

4
 

10

 LUCKY OX STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
7 PALETAS M Clements S Shafrizal

1
(4 b.nz.g Iffraaj - Always Happy by Aldebaran)
2 Sacred Gift M Walker PH Seow

2
8 Super Posh D Logan J van der Merwe

3
11 Triple Bowl D Meagher CC Wong

4