Trainer Ricardo Le Grange was glad promising three-year-old Nowyousee has quickly bounced back from his only defeat with a gutsy all-the-way win on Sunday.
Dictating terms from the outset in the $80,000 RDA Cup, a Class 3 Division 2 race over 1100m on Polytrack, the son of O’Reilly never gave any anxious moments to the punters who decided that his $7 odds were still better than bank interest.
The only moment Nowyousee could have buckled was when Wonderful Knight (Benny Woodworth) came issuing a challenge inside the last furlong, but the Titanium Racing-owned galloper kept finding to rally home with one length to spare.
Nowyousee (Nooresh Juglall) makes every post a winning one in the RDA Cup, picture Singapore Turf Club
It was another gap of just under three lengths before the third-placed horse crossed the line – Hero I Am (Matthew Kellady). The winning time was 1min 6.3secs for the 1100m dash.
At his previous start, which was his first 2018 run coming off his undefeated campaign last season when a winner of two from two, Nowyousee was beaten for the first time in a Class 3 race over 1200m.
Le Grange did not blame the horse for not seeing out the trip. He blamed himself.
“I’m not convinced the horse doesn’t get 1200m. I blame myself for his run at his last start,” said the South African handler.
“The horse was a bundle of nerves in the parade ring that day, he was too fresh. We’ve put in more work in him for his next start and it’s paid off.
“A massive thank you to Jeff Soh and his father for their support. I was devastated after the last run, but they told me not to worry as these things happen.
“It’s not easy for these young horses to give weight to older horses. He is a very smart horse.
“Obviously, we’ve thought about the 3YO series for him, but I’d like to put him on grass first as we still have a bit of time.”
The first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge is the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on March 30.
Winning connections celebrate after the triumph: (from left) owner Jeffrey Soh, jockey Nooresh Juglall,
a Titanium Stable representative and trainer Ricardo Le Grange, picture Singapore Turf Club
After a slow start, Juglall was relieved his season was finally gaining traction. The Mauritian jockey only bagged his second winner (since Mokastar on January 7) on Friday, First Choice, and Nowyousee (one of the 10 seconds he has racked up this year) has taken his score to a more decent level to tack onto the leading bunch.
“I think the last race over 1200m took something out of him. We’ve put a lot of work on him and he was a lot better today,” said Juglall.
“Without the team effort, we would not be getting the results. A big thank you to my wife and my parents who are here today, and of course the owner for his big support in the game.”
With a record reading three wins and one second from four starts, Nowyousee has now seen his prizemoney bumped up to the $130,000 mark for the Titanium Racing Stable.
