Former Tony Pike galloper Cavalry (NZ) (Tavistock) got his Singapore career off to a winning start when he kicked clear to score comfortably in a Class 3 1400 race at Kranji on Saturday.
Bred by Marie Leicester, Cavalry was purchased by Pike for $250,000 out of Haunui Farm’s draft at Karaka, a half-brother to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle, he was a dual stakeswinner under the name Tutukaka for Tony Pike and changed hands in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Bevan Smith.
Now trained by Michael Clements and owned by the King Power Stable, the three-time winner (over 1830m to 2200m) arrived in Singapore in April, stepped out for two barrier trials two months later and quickly found himself facing the Kranji starter for the first time on Saturday.
Despite the hectic preparation, Cavalry showed that he has taken to his new environment like fish to water when he relaxed nicely under jockey Daniel Moor on the rails.
The pair trailed steadily in third behind stablemate Vittoria Perfetta and Red Dot in the running until a gap appeared inside upon straightening.
As Vittoria Perfetta rolled off, Cavalry dashed through the opening and hit the front at the 300m. Tried as Vittoria Perfetta, Red Dot and Wealth Elite might to make up ground in a line of three behind him, they were no match for Cavalry’s motor.
Assistant-trainer Michael White said the four-year-old son of Tavistock should be bound for the Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 23 if all things go well, while his main assignment this year remains to be the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November.
“The Derby’s on the agenda but we’ll see how he comes through that run and keep a close eye on him over the next three to four days,” said the Australian horseman who was deputising for Clements at the winner’s circle.
“We thought he’d jump fresh from the inside draw (one) and he’s got a lovely run on the inside rails. He won like he’s supposed to.
“It was a good run, not a hard one but one where he gave us confidence and where things worked out great.
“The step-up to 1800m in two weeks’ time isn’t ideal but we won’t do too much with him in those two weeks. It’s (the step-up) not conventional but it might work for his horse.
“We’d like to stick with him (Moor) for the Derby because he won on the horse, but we’ll have to see how things work out eventually.”
A decision would have to be made soon but Moor would rather focus on the 2022 Taupo Cup (2000m) winner’s first win in Singapore, which came as a pleasant surprise over a trip not made to suit.
“His trials were good but he didn’t really show us a turn of foot, though I’m putting it down to the fact that he wouldn’t have done much work on the Poly(track),” said Moor.
“The field’s just fair but the fact that the preparation wasn’t ideal and the trip was short of his best, it was a good effort.
“I wanted to see if he could switch off and relax and he did.
“I was very surprised with the way he took that needle eye opening. When I asked him for an effort, he pinned his ears back and quickened up sharp.
“If he can do so over seven furlongs, relax like he did and bring that turn of foot today to a race like the Derby, then he’s a top seed.
“Beyond that, he could be the perfect Gold Cup horse.”
With his debut win in Singapore, Cavalry has already won close to S$40,000 in prizemoney for his new connections.
