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Promising filly Sweet Angeline’s fighting spirit again came to the fore at her second win on Sunday.
At her Kranji debut on April 3 in what was to become the last race of the pre-Circuit Breaker three-month suspension, the Rubick three-year-old beat all comers by doing it the hard way, pressing on from a wide course before digging down deep in the home straight for a tenacious win.
She again had no luck at the barriers when resuming in Sunday's $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m having drawn 10 from 11, not to mention she had to contend with the steadier of 58kgs this time (she carried 56kgs on debut).
But, with champion jockey Vlad Duric staying on her back, she used her natural speed to again take up a forward position, albeit unable to cross with main rival Knight Love (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) kicking up on the rails from a better gate.
Legend Rocks (Benny Woodworth) in the end rolled forward to show the way for the two main protagonists, but Duric was again on the front foot when he was the first to heel his mount along at the top of the straight.
Sweet Angeline immediately shot to the front. The favourite Knight Love was caught a little on the backfoot on the inside running rails but clawing his way back, while Delaware (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) was making inroads on the outside with a stinging challenge, shaping up as the one who could upstage the two top picks.
But absorbing the pressure from either side with aplomb, Sweet Angeline ($13) fought back tooth and nail to go and hold a one-length margin on Knight Love. Michael Clements' US-bred debut winner lost no admirers with his gallant effort, just nosing Delaware out for second place. The winning time was just a tick under 1min 12secs.
Sweet Angeline, who raced as Chia for a record of one win (1300m at Hawkesbury) in six starts in New South Wales, has now established a two-from-two record in Singapore for around $55,000 in stakes earnings for the TRC Stable.
"It was a tough courageous win from Sweet Angeline. It's great training horses like her," said Le Grange.
"It's so good to see her win the way she did. The biggest thing about her is she wants to win.
"She's now won two tough races. They never left her alone, she gave them so much weight, but she kicked again."
Le Grange went on to saddle a second winner when Gold Prize (Ryan Munger, $26) made all in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1200m.
The Argentinian-bred four-year-old by Orpen was opening his account at his fifth start after overcoming some adversity early in his career at Kranji.
"It's great this horse won. A massive thanks to the Gold & Chelsea Stable, the Yong's," said Le Grange.
"He had a tendon injury after the first start and the owners have been very patient.
"Today the plan was to ride him positive and Ryan ended up in front and it worked out well in the end."
