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Baertschiger celebrates 400th win with Galileo’s Approach

3 minute read

Trainer Shane Baertschiger hit another landmark when he brought up his 400th winner with Galileo’s Approach on Friday night.

Galileo's Approach winning the BAHANA 2016 STAKES CLASS 4
Galileo's Approach winning the BAHANA 2016 STAKES CLASS 4 Picture: Singapore Turf Club

The previous two-time winner is not by any stretch (pun fully intended) of the imagination one of the stars in the stable run by "Stretch" (Baertschiger's nickname), but his gutsy all-the-way win under stable jockey John Powell in the $50,000 Bahana 2016 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1600m, certainly gave the Australian a massive buzz.

Baertschiger, who took over his father Don in 2012, was even happier the milestone was achieved together with his long-standing owner Desmond Ong, who holds half of the shares in the seven-year-old son of New Approach, with Irwin Tan another 40% and Baertschiger himself keeping the remaining 10%.

"It's been a great run. In seven years, I've won 400, and not out, it's fantastic!" said Baertschiger.

"I'm glad that milestone came for Desmond who has been a solid supporter of mine from Day 1, and Johnny Powell, who has been our stable jockey from Day 1 as well.

"It's also nice for Irwin Tan who has 40% in the horse while I also own 10%. We gave the horse a good chance tonight and he duly obliged.

"He can fly-jump at the start, but tonight, he jumped away clear and JP rated him perfectly in front."

After breaking from the outside, Galileo's Approach  had to match motors with Golden Dash (Ben Thompson) for about 200m before eventually finding the plastic.

Powell then gave his mount a breather midrace before pinching another break at the point of the turn. For a second it looked like a fast-closing Golden Dash would overpower him at the 300m, but Galileo's Approach kept finding.

Out of nowhere, Archie (Alysha Collett) came with a rattling run that threatened to put the champagne on ice for Baertschiger, but Galileo's Approach did enough to hold on by three-quarter length. Archie just pipped Wind Trail (Marc Lerner) for second place by a head.

The winning time was 1min 35.88secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.

With that third win in 33 starts, Galileo's Approach has now taken his prizemoney past the $160,000 mark for the Galileo's Approach Stable.


Singapore Turf Club

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