Judges could not split War Pride (NZ) (Tavistock) and Kimitonara (Star Witness) after they came out tops in a stirring four-cornered fight in Friday’s Class 4 race over 1700m in Singapore.
The better-fancied ($8) War Pride took the first run after coming from a one-out one-back spot. Kimitonara ($10) had to battle a bit harder to work his way through, but when he did, he launched to finish locked together with War Pride.
The dead-heaters, who are both three and were venturing over seven furlongs for the first time, clocked 1min 22.64secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
While War Pride was making it back-to-back wins after breaking his maiden status in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m two weeks ago, Kimitonara was returning to winning ways after five months.
Singaporean trainer Jason Ong found a lot of merit in War Pride’s performance, especially after coming off only two weeks in between runs.
“He’s a tough little horse, I had no doubt over the distance,” said Ong who trains War Pride for his father Ong Boon Hin of Warplan Racing Stable.
“I actually thought it might be too short, but I spoke to JP (jockey John Powell) and he told me he was a professional horse and we took that option, and it’s worked out good.
“JP gave him a 10-out-of-10 ride.”
Powell said there was still more upside to come out of the son of Tavistock.
“I thought we got beat by a short head, but dead-heat is better than second,” said the in-form Australian jockey.
“It was a great effort as he was backing up in two weeks, and he is still a young horse going forward.”
