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where the horse is always the hero
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Section sponsored by - Singapore Turf Club Posted 2016-10-10 08:05:18  
Debt Collector wins the Panasonic Kranji Mile


It was billed as the race of the year, the clash between the old guard and the rising stars, and the $700,000 Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) did not disappoint with the two “young pretenders” Debt Collector and Well Done running 1-2 on Sunday.

Regarded as the future of Singapore racing, Debt Collector (Michael Rodd) and Well Done (Glen Boss) showed in no uncertain terms they could hold their own against Kranji’s crème de la crème when they were the ones who came up with the best turns of foot inside the last 300m to fight out the finish of the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series.

The horse they had to beat, War Affair (Danny Beasley), did look well on his way to a second Kranji Mile when he bore down on the winning post like a good thing after easily sweeping past race-leader Laughing Gravy (John Powell) at the top of the straight.


Debt Collector (Michael Rodd, No 8) holds Well Done (Glen Boss) at bay to land the Panasonic Kranji Mile.

Eternal bridesmaid Majestic Moments (Nooresh Juglall) was also in the mix, no doubt hoping not to strike any trouble this time, but Debt Collector, who was coming with his usual storming run on the outside, and Well Done, who had to do it tougher by ducking straight back into a crowded pack after he copped a slight bump when initially heading for the outside, were shaping up as the main threats.

The eight horses were spread across the track, and a three-way battle royale was in the offing, but it soon dropped to only two horses when War Affair shortened up, leaving his two younger rivals to take care of the decider.

Rodd and Boss, two Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys flexed their muscles, and in the end, Debt Collector, who was sent out as the joint $13 favourite with War Affair, won with a neck to spare from Well Done. Majestic Moments lost no marks to finish third another length away, one neck clear of War Affair.

The winning time was 1min 34.43secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.


The trio beams with joy after Debt Collector's triumph: (from left) trainer Cliff Brown, jockey Michael
Rodd and owner Mr Glenn Whittenbury.

Brown was speechless yet again, unable to process the way his horse seems to always find the line even when things look against him. With that sixth win, Debt Collector has now hit the $1 million mark for his owners, the Victorian-based Barree Stable.

“I thought he would be in trouble today. He was struggling at the 700m, at least it looked that way, I’ll have to have another look at the replay,” said the Australian handler.

“To be honest, I thought he was handier than usual today. But I had left it to Michael and I trusted he knew what he was doing.

“I’ve been nervous since Tuesday. I have confidence in his ability, but this was his biggest test by far.

“He’s just a remarkable horse who just knows where the post is. It’s onwards to the Raffles Cup now, but he won’t be going for the Gold Cup.

“Then he will go for a break and we will set him for the Derby next year.”

The Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) is the second Leg of the series and will be run on October 30.

Rodd, who has now ridden the Thorn Park four-year-old to five of his six wins, was brimming with excitement at the journey ahead.

“It looked like he was in trouble, didn’t he? He doesn’t help himself in his races,” said the Australian jockey.

“But don’t forget, he was running against better horses this time and they can sprint better. That is why he looked like he was not running on like he normally does.

“But the thing with my bloke is when they hit their gear, he has one more gear left in him.”

Beasley jumped off a little downcast about War Affair’s fourth place but cautioned not to write off the son of O’Reilly for the remaining two Legs.

“He’ll only come on from that run. When I went for him in the straight, there was no response, and I knew he would not be there today,” said Beasley.

“But he’s been away for so long and the programme to get him fit and ready for the big races did not suit him. He won that 1400m race at his last start, but it may have worked against him.

“There are three weeks to the Raffles Cup and I’m sure he will come on and you’ll see a fitter War Affair then.” 

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