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Section sponsored by - Singapore Turf Club Posted 2009-07-17 22:05:24  
Third Leg falls to Given Vision

Trainer Stephen Gray got an extra thrill out of the win of Given Vision in the $450,000 Group 2 Three-Year-Old Challenge 3rd Leg over 1600m on Friday night.

In winning the 3rd Leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge, Given Vision picked-up a $50,000 bonus for the Jupiter Stable for also winning the 2nd Leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge three weeks earlier.

Ridden by “Magic” Joao Moreira, Given Vision scored by a length-and-a-half over Renixus (Robbie Fradd) with Waipapa (Vlad Duric) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

Given Vision (Joao Moreira) reigns supreme in the 3rd Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.

Gray said the years of hard work in Singapore were beginning to pay off with success in feature races starting to fall his way.

“I’ve been here nine years now and I just feel that it is all starting to happen for me,” said a beaming Gray.

“There has been a lot of hard work put into making the business up here work. There are a lot of people that I have to thank for their great support over the years.

“This win is very satisfying as I’ve bought him along all the way through. He is a very good horse and can go off for a break now.”

Gray said he has had a number of good horses pass through his stables, including Singapore Derby winner Lim’s Prestige, but has high hopes for Given Vision going on to bigger and better things.

“Lim’s Prestige was a very good horse but was stopped through his problems, but I think this horse can keep going on,” said Gray.

“He’s a very exciting horse and he has to be one of the better ones that I have trained.”

Given Vision has now won five of his six starts since making his debut with a 1200m victory in March before bumping into the smart Ace Aviva at his next outing, finishing fourth after hanging out during the race.

Gray then set about mending his manners with impressive results since, winning his last four starts, the last two in Group company.

“He has really thrived since he has been here and Joao was extremely confident about his chances when we spoke on race morning,” said Gray.

“He was really excited and said he had no worries about him winning.”

Gray said he would send Given Vision for a break and was in no hurry with the rising four-year-old.

“The Singapore Gold Cup won’t be on his agenda,” said Gray. “He’s done a terrific job to date and I don’t want to push him too hard just yet.

The winning connections at the presentation dais.

“I’ll look at some of the weight-for-age races later in the year before setting our sights on the Singapore Derby with him next year.”

In just his six starts in Singapore, Given Vision’s prizemoney has now topped the $500,000 mark. The Australian-bred three-year-old by Belong To Me from the Made Of Gold mare Aurum Valley was a cheap buy, costing just NZ$10,000 as a yearling.

Given Vision’s victory bought up a winning treble for Moreira who had earlier been successful aboard Daad’s The Way (for Gray) and Rainbow Empire (for Douglas Dragon).

Moreira described Given Vision as a fantastic horse and has no doubts the gelding will go on to bigger and better things.

“He is a fantastic horse. The best I have ridden here,” said Moreira. “I have been on a lot of good horses back in Brazil and it is hard to line up the horses.

“But I would say he would be the equal of the horses I have ridden at home.

“He has very good potential and will continue to get better. He will develop into a good stayer and will have no problem handling 2000m and longer.

“He thrives on hard work and just continues to get better.” 

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