Trainer Shane Baertschiger thought he would put a line through the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series after his “best baby” Be Bee hurt himself quite seriously back in March.
The Australian handler was gutted to say the least at the woeful sight of the son of Showcasing, the more forward of the three two-year-olds in his yard, returning from the training tracks with a bloodied left leg.
After losing his rider as he was being led out of the track, Be Bee galloped on riderless before jumping over a gate, tearing up his nearside forearm in the process. Thankfully, the injury was not life or career-threatening, but the annual two-year-old series plans looked touch and go then.
Be Bee (Barend Vorster) holds off the fast-closing Augustano (Amirul Ismadi) to win on debut in Race 2.
Hopes were, however, rekindled when the gelding recovered more speedily than thought. The Auric Stable-owned galloper was soon put through two barrier trials (winning the second from start to finish on June 15), and Baertschiger could finally give him the green light for his Kranji debut in Monday’s $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m.
In a close go to the line, Be Bee found enough to edge out the other debutant Augustano (Amirul Ismadi) by a head. It did not matter how he won, to Baertschiger that maiden run was the go-ahead signal he needed to press on towards the race he had long been set for – the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) on July 7.
“He ripped his leg around three months ago. He got loose and jumped over a gate at the catching area,” said Baertschiger whose other two-year-olds Silent Prince and Kiss Your Song ran in the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series without winning.
“We had to stitch up his left forearm, but luckily, he came back good. But because of that injury, he could not run in the two-year-old series.
“I thought he was home and hosed today, but he just made it by a nostril. He wasn’t as brilliant as he was in his trials; when the other horse (Crazy Dreams) crossed in front of him, he got a bit of pressure.
“He’s only two but he coped with it quite well. He will now run in the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe in two weeks’ time.
“That was the race I had in mind for him before the injury. I’m glad he’s made it in time for the grand final.”
From his barrier No 1, Be Bee was stoked up by jockey Barend Vorster to take up a prominent spot but Crazy Dreams (Benny Woodworth) beat him to it as he whipped around from the outer to secure the rails run.
Not keen to get cooped up behind the leader, Vorster almost immediately popped Be Bee off the fence to sit outside Crazy Dreams, before throwing caution to the wind upon straightening.
Be Bee shot to the lead after a brief tussle with Crazy Dreams, but under pressure, he hung in and started to stargaze once he found himself in front on his own.
Resorting to hands-and-heels riding, Vorster just made sure his young mount was given enough impetus to the line. The South African jockey was well inspired because another debutant Augustano (Amirul Ismail) was storming home with a later rush on the outside, but he fell short by a head.
Crazy Dreams ran third another 2 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.22secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
“I’d like to thank Stretch for the opportunity to ride this horse, especially after he had to overcome an injury so early in his career,” said Vorster.
“He jumped quite well but when the other horse came across too quickly, I let him switch across heels to sit outside. At the top of the straight, he hit the front but he was very green and wanted to lay in on the rails.
“I just rode him hands and heels as you don’t want to cut a two-year-old in half.”
