Captain Jamie lived up to his ultra-short odds as he ran rings around his rivals in the $65,000 Initiation Division 1 race over 1400m on Friday night.

The Captain Sonador three-year-old had been beating around the bush at his three outings as a juvenile, but had somehow not been able to turn his budding talent into a winning run.

Connections remained patient, though, especially trainer Ricardo Le Grange and jockey Nooresh Juglall, with their hard work coming to fruition at his fourth outing.



Captain Jamie (Nooresh Juglall) opens his account in smart fashion on Friday, picture Singapore Turf Club

Settled in fifth spot between runners around two lengths off the leader Nova Classic (Manoel Nunes), Captain Jamie was always striding out beautifully, especially as the field got more strung out 600m out.

Turning for home, Juglall had not flexed a muscle yet, but the moment he angled Captain Jamie to the outside with acres of land rolling out ahead, the race was over in the twinkling of an eye.

The Australian-bred named after owner Guy Shirtliff’s young son Jamie immediately bounded away to go and street his rivals with consummate ease, relegating the next best Sahaba (Oscar Chavez) by five lengths. Athena (Michael Rodd) ran third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 22.54secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.

Le Grange was absolutely rapt with not only unlocking the true potential of Captain Jamie, but also for training a winner raced by people who go back a long way.

“Marsh Shirtliff has been an owner with Pat Shaw for a long time, here in Singapore, for example Barnato and I’m On Fire. He also famously won the Singapore Airlines International Cup with Jay Peg (2008),” said the South African handler.

“He and his son Guy were one of the first to send a horse to me when I got my stables. They are great people.

“Captain Jamie had some issues when he came here, and Nooresh has taught him to settle in his races. He wouldn’t get past horses.

“It’s funny how I was telling Pat recently that I was a touch disappointed with my two-year-olds, but I felt they would be better when they turn three. Touch wood, this one will turn into a nice horse.”

Juglall, who has stayed on top of Captain Jamie right through, did not fail to thank Shirtliff for his support. To the Mauritian jockey, it’s the gelding’s greater experience which took care of matters on Friday night.

“It’s his greater racing experience that won him the race tonight,” he said.

“He’s put it together now, he can go past horses, and I think he will be a mile and 1800m horse. It’s nice to ride a winner for Guy Shirtliff, too.”

While it was time to pop the champagne and rightly so, Le Grange turned sombre as he found time to spare a thought for a good friend who suddenly passed away during the week, South African jockey Alec Forbes.

“I’d like to dedicate that win to the memory of my good friend Alec Forbes. We went through our early years around the same time,” said Le Grange.

“The news came as a shock to everybody back home and also to us within our small South African racing community here. I’d like to extend my sincerest condolences to his wife Lezeanne and his children.”