Maxima wins Singapore debut

SINGAPORE:  Aug 20, 2023
 
MAXIMA cruising to victory in his Singapore debut - SNTC photo
 

MAXIMA, who failed to live up to expectations in Hong Kong with just four placings in 15 starts, has made a winning start to his campaign in Singapore with a first-up win at Kranji here today.

The German bred by Ivawood, who cost €710,000 as a yearling, was undefeated in three runs in France including the listed Criterium de Lyon. He then picked up another win in England before he was imported into Hong Kong.

MAXIMA, ridden by Bernado Pinheiro, was always well up with the lead set by PACIFIC MV. MAXIMA challenged the leader inside the final 200m to win drawing away by one and a quarter length.

"He’s a work in progress for sure," said trainer Ricardo Le Grange.

"The fact he did it tough today but still won was an amazing effort. We haven’t had him for long, so I feel that there is a lot more to come from this horse as we learn more about him.

"He had his issues in Hong Kong, so to get him to win early (in Singapore) was very rewarding."

The Singapore races went well for punters with favourites, including four odds-on picks, winning most of the earlier races but ended with shock results in the final two event at Kranji here today.

LIM'S CRAFT, an eight-year-old with already seven wins to his name, bounced back to form to land his first win since last October to capture the Class 4 - 1400m handicap to pay $124 for a win.

ALWAYS TOGETHER, who scored in a Maiden race five starts back in May, came from a long way back in the running to win the Class 4 - 1000m sprint on the polytrack to pay $188 for a win.

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1200M
1 SUN RECTITUDE D Koh PH Seow

1
  (8 ch.a.g Sepoy - Ladys Angel by Arena)  
4 The Wild Prince J Ong TH Koh

2
2 Bingo Master J Tan R Woodworth

3
6 Galaxy Star S Baertshciger M Kellady

4
 

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA), DIV 1 - 1200M
10 LAST SUPPER J Peters V Duric

1
  (3 b/br.a.g Grunt - Isleham by Street Cry)  
1 Big Max L Khoo B Pinheiro

2
14 Spieth Heorine J Peters T Krisna

3
7 Empowering H Takaoka I Saifudin

4
 

3

 MAIDEN - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4 GRAND SUPREME R Lim M Nunes

1
  (4 b.a.g Divine Prophet - Snaps by Flying Spur)  
5 Lim's Fuji D Meagher R Stewart

2
9 Strong Ace T Mahadi K A'Isisuhairi

3
1 Pacific Snoopy M Clements M Ibrahim

4
 

4

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5 SIRIUS J Ong B Queiroz

1
  (5 b.nz.g Tivaci - May Rain by Written Tycoon)  
2 Kiss Your Song S Baertschiger M Kellady

2
8 Always Innocent S Baertschiger M Nunes

3
1 Happy Friday R Lim R Iskandar

4
 

5

 MAIDEN - 1600M
10 TOP FIELD J Ong B Queiroz

1
  (5 b.a.g Real Impact - Email Me by Danehill)  
3 City Gold Friend D Kok B Pinheiro

2
6 Bintang Sixty-One J Peters R Stewart

3
9 Liebestraum S Gray WH Kok

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
8 MAXIMA R Le Grange B Pinheiro

1
  (6 ch.ger.g Ivawood - Coco Demure by Titus Livius)  
2 Grand Avante D Meagher M Lerner

2
9 Pacific MV D Kok V Duric

3
5 Amazing Breeze J Tan R Woodworth

4
 

7

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA), DIV 2 - 1200M
8 HASTEN S Burridge WH Kok

1
  (3 b.a.g Hellbent - Circle Game by Snitzel)  
6 Eruption T Fitzsimmons B Queiroz

2
3 Auspicious King L Khoo K A'Isisuhairi

3
7 Flying Success J Peters R Woodworth

4
 

8

 CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
2 LION SPIRIT CT Kuah M Nunes

1
  (6 b.am.g Commissioner - Victoria's Hope by Run Away And Hide)  
1 Gold Kingdom KS Tan CC Wong

2
6 Poroshiri H Takaoka M Zaki

3
5 Ninesixthreethree D Koh K Faiz

4
 

9

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
4 FIRST BOWL D Meagher M Lerner

1
  (8 b.nz.g Battle Paint - Greensleeves by Green Perfume)  
5 Groovy R Lim T Krisna

2
10 Golden Dash R Le Grange B Pinheiro

3
2 Captain Singapore R Lim S Shafrizal

4
 

10

 CLASS 5 - 1600M
5 RODA ROBOT J Ong M Nunes

1
  (4 b.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Piper by O'Reilly)  
2 Blue Idol R Le Grange B Pinheiro

2
7 Two Million R Lim S Shafrizal

3
6 Graviton S Burridge CC Wong

4
 

11

 CLASS 4 - 1400M
3 LIM'S CRAFT S Burridge K A'Isisuhairi

1
  (8 br.a.g Smart Missile - Dukemore by Encosta De Lago)  
10 Montana Flash D Logan L Beuzelin

2
12 Super Convince J Ong I Amirul

3
13 Taling Pling M Clements WH Kok

4
 

12

 CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
12 ALWAYS TOGETHER D Meagher K Faiz

1
  (4 b.a.g Shalaa - Chivonne by Toorak Toff)  
13 Summer Wind S Baertschiger R Stewart

2
11 Surrey Hills J Ong I Amirul

3
2 Bransom S Gray R Iskandar

4