Cash Cove (NZ) (Charm Spirit) gained support late and reprised his win in the Novice race over 1100m on the Polytrack at Kranji on Saturday.
It was a back-to-back victory after the three-year-old son of Charm Spirit opened his account in a similar race on August 7.
The Michael Clements-trained Ejaz was scratched in the morning, leaving Cash Cove as the only three-year-old left in the field of nine.
Ridden very positively early by the in-form jockey Wong Chin Chuen, Cash Cove was allowed to cross from the widest gate and lead into the first bend with the race favourite, Fadaboy (Deep Field), on his flank.
The pace was on in earnest early and so was the pressure when Vlad Duric made his move on Fadaboy upon turning for home, while Wong still sat quietly on Cash Cove, who looked to have plenty in hand.
When asked for an effort by Wong at the 350m, the flashy grey put the race to bed in a few strides and with a crucial weight difference (carried 6.5kgs less than Fadaboy), he was never going to be headed.
Finding yet another gear at the 150m, Cash Cove kicked again and eventually won by three-and-a-half lengths over an outsider in Amazing M (NZ) (Power), with Fadaboy half-a-length away in third.
Rocky (NZ) (EL Roca) did his best work late to finish the same margin away in fourth. The winning time was 1min 5.41secs over 1100m on the Polytrack.
Winning trainer Alwin Tan, was already looking forward to where his promising youngster could go next when asked by racing presenter Scott Bailey after the race.
“First, I think I will check with the jockey on how he (Cash Cove) pulled up,” said the Singaporean handler.
“And then we will look at what is coming up on the programme that will suit him and decide from there.
“He just turned three, so he is definitely look for more distance; he can go up to 1400m or 1600m.”
The smart win by Cash Cove bodes well for a crack at next year’s Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), but Tan was not taking credit for sourcing the horse that may be a stable star of the future.
“My owner (Ivan Neo of the Cash Cove Stable) got him from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready-To-Run sale held online,” he said.
“He asked me and I said he looks a good buy and Charm Spirit – his sire – is quite famous right now.”
Wong, who also bagged a New Zealand bred treble on Saturday thanks to Buuraq (NZ) (Sweet Orange) and Ace Sovereign (NZ) (Darci Brahma), had plenty of good things to say about his mount.
“I’ve been riding him for about two months and I really love the horse,” said the jockey they call ‘Jimmy’.
“In the mornings, he has a good temperament and he will just do what I ask him to do.
“He’s just turned three, is a nice horse and I believe he still has a lot of improvement in him.
“He’s definitely improved a lot from his last win from what he showed today.
“I think this horse will be really nice for the Three-Year-Old races next year.
“He’s good distance-wise but at this stage, we are teaching him to jump and go and he did well today. I think we can slowly ride him a bit quieter and come off the speed and he will get even better.” That was Cash Cove’s second win in four starts, which took his earnings to over $80,000.
