3 minute read
Nobody could begrudge Brian Dean for calling Friday winner Archie his 439th winner at Kranji.
The former Australian trainer left the Kranji training ranks in March 2016 to begin a new chapter in Seoul, South Korea.
He has since quit Korea after a short but rather successful stint. Although he is now back in his native Bendigo, the affable horseman has often been seen at Kranji – not with a stopwatch and binoculars at the trainer’s hut, but as an owner.
Archie was the first horse he sent to trainer Saimee Jumaat (in a reversal of roles as the former eight-time Singapore champion jockey certainly rode quite a few of his 438 Kranji winners).
The likeable 61-year-old would be the first to say his transition from trainer to ownership has probably not been as successful with the Golden Archer three-year-old having seen more rears than clear room at the better end of the field.
But you cannot fault Dean for his dedication to the game. Even with Archie’s unenviable record of 5-0-0-0, he had booked another air-ticket for the Melbourne-Singapore jaunt, albeit a quick look at Archie’s horror gate in 14 in the $30,000 Stepitup 2013 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 2 race over 1400m, before he boarded the plane did make him wince a tad.
He would have buried his head in his hands even more when jockey John Powell settled the $176 shot at the rear, about a dozen lengths off the leader Flash The Flag (Mohammad Nizar) in the well strung-out field.
But as the 14 horses fanned out upon cornering for the run to the judge, those familiar red and white diamond and cap colours could suddenly thread a needle through to go and emerge tops right where it mattered.
In a thrilling blanket finish, Archie nutted Gingerman (Juan Paul van der Merwe) out by a head with Roan Ranger (Simon Kok Wei Hoong), who was being hailed the winner halfway up the home straight, running third another short head away. The winning time was 1min 24.56secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Dean, who counts 2007 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy winner World Airlines and 2008 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint winner Oneninetyfive as his Kranji career highlights, looked like he had captured another Group race at the winner’s circle, a place he last visited with his 438th winner Flying Shadow on March 11, 2016.
“I was worried about the barrier. I had booked my flight when I knew Archie was running this Friday, but then I went ‘oh no’ when I saw the barrier,” said Dean who flew in while wife Wendy stayed back in Bendigo this time around.
“It’s taken four runs for him to come to fruition. Saimee has done a good job and it was a good ride by JP as well.”
Saimee was quite happy to leave the limelight – and the press debrief of the win - to a man who has supplied him with many winners as a jockey before, and now as a trainer.
“Brian told me it was my last chance. If Archie lost tonight, either he goes to Malaysia or I get sacked!” Saimee said jokingly amid hearty laughter from both men.
“I hope he will now send me another 10.”
That number may not be such a pipedream as Dean actually does have a second unregistered horse by the same sire Golden Archer with Saimee
Powell said he was probably further back than he wanted when he found himself among the tailenders, but that proved to work in their favour.
“I thought he was too far back in the race at first, but I think the trick to him is to just leave him where he’s happy,” said the Australian jockey who was at a race-to-race double after saluting aboard Super Six for Leticia Dragon one race ($50,000 War Affair 2014 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m) earlier.
“Things worked out when they moved out of my way at the top of the straight. I thought we might run third.
“But it’s the Long Course, and they went quite quick early and they all got to stop. Good for Brian to have another winner!”
