Dutrow justified his favouritism tag with a closely-contested win on Sunday, both on and off the tracks on Sunday, as he only had his number semaphored in the top box via the Stewards’ room.

After kicking up on the rails to keep race-leader Special King (Barend Vorster) in a one-off spot for most of the way, the Shane Baertschiger-trained Dutrow looked poised to pounce for Matthew Kellady as he kept hugging the rails around the home turn, but a tenacious Special King would not call it quits so easily.

A titanic duel unfolded between the pair for the whole length of the straight. With the naked eye, it was clear there was some bumping involved, which can be the case in such close ding-dong battles. 

Dutrow (Matthew Kellady, obscured) gets the win in the Stewards' room after a successful objection against Special King (Barend Vorster, No 4), picture Singapore Turf Club

But upon checking the head-on TV view, Special King could be seen shifting in under pressure and contacting Dutrow twice. Kellady argued that the heavy bumps cost him a few strides, especially the one when he hit the running rails, and considering the narrow margin on the line, he should be rightfully restored the win.

The Stewards eventually sided with Kellady, even if Vorster defended his case tooth and nails, asserting he did all he could to correct his mount’s wayward trajectory, and that he also had the greater momentum in the concluding stages.

Baertschiger for one had no doubt he would be seeing his overall score tie with Michael Clements at the top of the ladder on 24 winners as he walked out of the protest hearing looking slightly more upbeat than Special King’s trainer Alwin Tan.

“He would have won more easily without the bumps,” said the Australian handler after the objection was upheld.

“He had no blinkers first-up the other day (April 8) but he had them on second-up today. He won his only race before with them on.

“He’s been working very well and I was confident he would be hard to beat today. We got it after objection, but a win’s a win.”

Tan was obviously disappointed with the outcome of the inquiry, but accepted the verdict graciously as he congratulated Baertschiger upon hearing the verdict.

“It’s racing. We lost, but I’m happy this horse keeps running well for us,” said the 2016 Singapore champion trainer.

“He has really turned the corner since we put visors on him, but I think the wide barrier (12) cost him the race. If he had swapped barriers with the winner, I think we would have won easily.

“I’m sure he can win again. I’ll look for another race like that for him, 1200m on Polytrack.”

Thanks to that second win recorded from seven starts, as well as his four placings, Dutrow has taken his stakes earnings past the $110,000 mark for his Kiwi owner Thomas Heptinstall.