Photo: Singapore Turf Club
Champion trainer Mark Walker is not one who is easily impressed by his own horses, but Distinctive Darci sure had the Kiwi handler in a more hyperbolic mood on Friday.
The Darci Brahma three-year-old has now reeled off four wins in a row, the latest one coming when tackling stiffer opposition in the S$80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m.
The Dato Terry Lee-owned gelding has ticked off Initiation, Novice and Class 4 boxes in succession before coming through at the much superior level from Friday's race, albeit with only 52kgs on his back.
It was still a highly commendable effort, especially as the penny has not fully dropped for Distinctive Darci judging from the way the second favourite could not quite chart a straight path to the winning post when put under pressure.
But Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes, who was aboard at two of his previous three wins, has sussed out his every quirk and was able to safely berth him into the winner's stall, scoring by a comfortable margin of 1 ½ lengths from Fortune Winner (Mark Ewe). The winning time for the 1200m on Polytrack was 1min 11.8secs.
"This horse keeps improving all the time. I was quite confident coming into tonight's race, but you still have to respect the opposition," said Walker.
"It's hard for a three-year-old to win four in a row. It gives me even more satisfaction as I also trained his father Darci Brahma.
"For that reason, he should be even better over more ground. I have to thank Dato Lee and his daughter Teresa who are great racing people and totally understand what we are doing."
Nunes was similarly full of praise for the winner, even if he thought he was tested a little more down to the core this time.
"He's a lovely horse, but he's still a baby. There is still some improvement to come out of him," said the current leading jockey.
"The last time I rode him, he sat outside the leader, but tonight, he was boxed in and had cover. He was a little intimidated; he didn't really know what to do.
"But once I put pressure on him at the top of the straight, he came into the clear and quickened quite well, even if he was drifting out.
"As you can see, he still does a few things wrong. Once they are sorted out, he will become a better horse next season.
"I think he will be able to go over 1400m and 1600m next year."
Distinctive Darci has now racked up prizemoney in excess of $180,000 earned from his tally of four wins and one second for the Fairdeal Stable. – Singapore Turf Club
The Darci Brahma three-year-old has now reeled off four wins in a row, the latest one coming when tackling stiffer opposition in the S$80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m.
The Dato Terry Lee-owned gelding has ticked off Initiation, Novice and Class 4 boxes in succession before coming through at the much superior level from Friday's race, albeit with only 52kgs on his back.
It was still a highly commendable effort, especially as the penny has not fully dropped for Distinctive Darci judging from the way the second favourite could not quite chart a straight path to the winning post when put under pressure.
But Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes, who was aboard at two of his previous three wins, has sussed out his every quirk and was able to safely berth him into the winner's stall, scoring by a comfortable margin of 1 ½ lengths from Fortune Winner (Mark Ewe). The winning time for the 1200m on Polytrack was 1min 11.8secs.
"This horse keeps improving all the time. I was quite confident coming into tonight's race, but you still have to respect the opposition," said Walker.
"It's hard for a three-year-old to win four in a row. It gives me even more satisfaction as I also trained his father Darci Brahma.
"For that reason, he should be even better over more ground. I have to thank Dato Lee and his daughter Teresa who are great racing people and totally understand what we are doing."
Nunes was similarly full of praise for the winner, even if he thought he was tested a little more down to the core this time.
"He's a lovely horse, but he's still a baby. There is still some improvement to come out of him," said the current leading jockey.
"The last time I rode him, he sat outside the leader, but tonight, he was boxed in and had cover. He was a little intimidated; he didn't really know what to do.
"But once I put pressure on him at the top of the straight, he came into the clear and quickened quite well, even if he was drifting out.
"As you can see, he still does a few things wrong. Once they are sorted out, he will become a better horse next season.
"I think he will be able to go over 1400m and 1600m next year."
Distinctive Darci has now racked up prizemoney in excess of $180,000 earned from his tally of four wins and one second for the Fairdeal Stable. – Singapore Turf Club
