3 minute read

A training double was just the ideal confidence-booster trainer Steven Burridge needed ahead of his first Japanese raid as he made a quick dash to the airport after Race 9 on Friday night.

Burridge was catching a Tokyo-bound red-eye flight close to midnight as he heads to Nakayama Racecourse to oversee the final touch-ups to Captain Obvious’ preparation towards his tilt at the S$3 million Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on Sunday.

The Australian had earlier led in Boundless Glory in Race 3 and wanted to stay till the penultimate event, a $75,000 Class 3 race over 1600m on Polytrack, as he was saddling three runners in the race, Iluminado, Vaya Condios and Irish Coffee.

And it was the second-less fancied runner of the trio, Vaya Condios ($73), which aptly, roughly means "godspeed" in Spanish, who came up trumps courtesy of a 10-out-of-10 frontrunning chance ride from replacement jockey Mohd Zaki. Designated rider Matthew Kellady was stood down after he was ironically injured by that very same horse, Vaya Condios.

“I feel sorry for Matty as he ripped his neck on him. The horse reared and fell backwards,” said Burridge who was already decked out in casual shirt and jeans, all set to rush to Changi Airport.

“All three horses go well on Polytrack, but they were all drawn wide. Vaya Condios had the easiest run when he was able to lead.

“Zaki rode him very well. Anyway, it’s always good to leave on a winning note and I hope the luck continues in Japan.

“He (Captain Obvious) is drawn a bit wide, but I notice some of the favourites have drawn wider. So you never know.”

Vaya Condios, a five-year-old by Golan, was at his fifth success for the Jupiter Stable, but only his third for Burridge as he used to be trained by Laurie Laxon who saddled him to the other two wins.

After charging early in search of the lead, Vaya Condios who had only 53kg on his back, was well rated in front by Zaki, but looked like he would be outsprinted in the run home when $14 favourite Full Toss (Danny Beasley) poked forward.

But Zaki, who just 12 days ago, scored his biggest win aboard Keep Away in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) by electing for the same catch-me-if-you-can tactics, would not give up. Vaya Condios, a noted one-batter slugged it out on the rails and was able to foil Full Toss’s plans to hang on by a neck on the line.

The well-tried Knight Spirit (John Powell) flew in late to grab third spot another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 38.96secs.