Major King bounces back with gutsy win

SINGAPORE:  Sep 9, 2023
 
MAJOR KING races past GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE - SNTC photo
 

 MAJOR KING bounced back from his unplaced run in the Rocket Man Sprint a month ago to capture the Class 3 - 1200m sprint at Kranji here today to continue his climb up the ranks.

Prior to the big race last month, the New Zealand gelding has scored two easy back-to-back wins in Class 4 and 3, beating GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE in the latter.

The pair met again today and the results remained the same, although the margin was closer than the three and a quarter lengths in the last occasion.

Both of them were tucked behind the pacemaker AKHTAR till the home straight. GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE collared AKHTAR passing the 200m and surged ahead close home.

MAJOR KING, with 59kg on his back, took a long time to close the gap behind them. He eventually opened up in the final 100m. Just when GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE took the lead, MAJOR KING raced past him to win by half a length. It was his fifth win in 10 starts.

"That went according to plan," said trainer Jason Ong, who leads the premiership with 40 winners.

"From gate one, we knew AKHTAR had the pace to lead but Manoel (Nunes) did a great job early to relax MAJOR KING in a handy position.

"That was very important given the big weight he had to carry and when he relaxed in the running, I knew he would have the kick at the end."

Jockey Nunes said: "I thought the weight might be an issue but when I had Bruno’s (Queiroz on GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE) back, I knew we would be hard to beat."

"So, I just tracked GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE and didn’t have to make my move earlier than needed.

"When I pulled him out, I gave him two on the left and he responded. And when I gave him two on the right and he responded again, I knew he would win."

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

1 

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M
1 SIMON S Gray M Lerner

1
  (6 br.a.g Choisir - Princess Katie by Bianconi)  
6 Tantheman J Tan R Woodworth

2
3 The Wild Prince J Ong TH Koh

3
5 Southern Master R Lim M Nunes

4
 

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1400M 
8 GEOBELS GLORY T Fitzsimmons R Stewart

1
  (3 b.a.g Kermadec - The Nickster by Big Brown)  
4 Commander D Logan N Zyrul

2
6 Empowering H Takaoka I Saifudin

3
10 Royal Commission T Fitzsimmons B Queiroz

4
 

3

 OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
7 LIM'S SALTORO D Meagher M Lerner

1
  (4 b.nz.g Shamexpress - Lampligher by Fastnet Rock)  
14 Charismatic L Khoo WH Kok

2
12 Super Pan Swiftly HW Tan B Queiroz

3
6 Bureaucrat T Mahadi PH Seow

4
 

4

 CLASS 3 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
5 SAINT TROPEZ S Baertschiger R Stewart

1
  (5 b).a.g Not A Single Doubt - Ihtsatune by Ihtiram  
4 Raising Sixty-One T Fitzsimmons V Duric

2
2 Real Efecto D Kok M Nunes

3
6 In All His Glory T Fitzsimmons B Queiroz

4
 

5

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M
3 RETALLICA S Gray M Lerner

1
  (8 b.a.g Magnus - Galaxy Light by Way Of Light)  
11 My Boss J Ong I Amirul

2
9 Gamely J Ong B Queiroz

3
6 Crown Dancing R Lim T Krisna

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
7 ENGINE START J Ong M Nunes

1
  (5 b.nz.g Highly Recommended - Melrose Gardens by Marju)  
11 Tony's Love R Le Grange S Shafrizal

2
9 Fearless Warrior D Koh PH Seow

3
12 Song Of Nature J Ong TH Koh

4
 

7

 CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2 GOLDEN SENTIENCE J Peters PH Seow

1
  (4 br.nz.g Astern - Stentorian by Ocean Park)  
3 Maze T Fitzsimmons V Duric

2
7 Ahone HW Tan I Saifudin

3
12 Wednesday D Meagher WH Kok

4
 

8

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1 RENZO R Le Grange V Duric

1
  (5 br.arg.g Orpen - Water Side by Salt Lake)  
2 Wealth Elite S Burridge WH Kok

2
7 Southern Speed R Lim M Nunes

3
3 Lucky Baby J Tan B Queiroz

4
 

9

 CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5 ENDLESS J Peters T Krisna

1
  (9 b.am.g War Front - River Belle by Lahib)  
2 Khao Manee J Tan B Queiroz

2
1 Global Kid T Mahadi I Saifudin

3
9 Sheng Warrior T Mahadi N Zyrul

4
 

10

 CLASS 4 - 1400M
13 EASY BREEZY D Meagher CC Wong

1
  (7 b.saf.g Dynasty - Allegoria by Spectrum)  
3 Maxima R Le Grange M Nunes

2
10 Axel D Logan B Queiroz

3
8 Montana Flash D Logan L Beuzelin

4
 

11

 CLASS 3 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1 MAJOR KING J Ong M Nunes

1
  (5 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Mojo by High Chaparral)  
3 Gold Ten Sixty-One T Fitzsimmons B Queiroz

2
12 Akhtar J Ong N Zyrul

3
10 Pacific Warrior M Clements CC Wong

4
 

12

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4 GRAND AVANTE D Meagher M Lerner

1
  (5 b.a.g Snitzel - Margaery Tyrell by Street Cry)  
8 Golden Brown T Fitzsimmons B Queiroz

2
2 Reignite D Logan S Jamil

3
3 Elite Legend R Lim M Nunes

4