Jockey John Powell got off to a flier on Sunday after he bagged the first two events on the 11-race programme at Kranji.
The Australian rider made no mistake in the opener, the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1000m, aboard the Leticia Dragon-trained Whistling Win ($20) before doubling the dose half an hour later with Born To Be King ($24) in the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m. Both were ridden from the front – a tactic that has long been seen as Powell’s strongest suit.
The heavyweight jockey, who enjoyed another successful season last year (eighth on 40 winners for a decent strike rate in the 14% vicinity) despite not enjoying as many opportunities as his lighter rivals, was rapt with the early brace.
Born To Be King rings up a double for jockey John Powell on Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club.
“Both horses had a chance,” said Powell who returned empty-handed at Singapore’s inaugural meeting on New Year’s Day but has already drawn level with joint-leaders Craig Grylls and Olivier Placais, both on two winners, in two races.
“Whistling Win showed improvement after he was gelded. He is a 1000m horse max and he’s hard to run down when things go his way.
“Born To Be King is a new horse but is not really a sprinter and will be better over longer distances.
“He was suited by the blinkers today. Even though he was caught wide, he’s a big horse and is better off in front.
“The other horse (Satellite Warrior) was running on, but with the blinkers on, my horse was always going to keep finding.”
Born To Be King’s trainer saluted Powell’s perfect handling of the Street Cry three-year-old raced by the same connections as Aramco.
“Born To Be King didn’t handle the soft track at his first run (November 24). He was hopeless,” said Baertschiger.
“He trialled with the blinkers and went really well. I told JP to not settle in behind runners as he would overrace.
“He’s a horse who will get the mile no worries.”
From the way Born To Be King had to do it the hard way in the initial stages, caught three wide in a four-way speed battle in the first 300m, it stands to reason the son of a Dubai World Cup (2002) should be even more at home over further.
Once he found the lead, he was able to settle into his strides better before mustering another gear in the home straight to hold the fast-finishing Satellite Warrior by half-a-length.
Two debutants fared well in that race: Debutant Ayutthaya (Daniel Moor) who ran third another 2 ½ lengths away with Lady Counsel (Nooresh Juglall) fourth another short head away. The winning time was 1min 10.25secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
