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In-form trainer Steven Burridge could not have hoped for a better result after his two MMW Stable debutants Sage and Ima ran 1-2 in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Saturday.
The pair dictated from their low draws and hardly came under any form of challenge when they turned the home straight into their own battleground as they shot clear.
After taking the drop in second place, Ima (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) gave the impression when he was peeled off for his run at the 300m mark he could overhaul his stablemate Sage (Wong Chin Chuen), who led from the start - like he did at his winning barrier trial.
But under a heady ride from Wong, Sage , a three-quarter brother to Aramaayo, rose again to come out with the thicker end of the prizemoney from that epic MMW battle between brethren.
Ima lost no admirers three-quarter length away with More Than Oil (Benny Woodworth) third another 4 ¼ lengths away. Sage ($13) clocked 1min 11.07secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Like a proud father who can't split his children, Burridge was pleased as punch at the lead-in, more so when he bought the duo himself for Miller Wun and Simon Yeom, the two partners of MMW Stable.
"You sort of hope for such a result, and I'm glad everything's worked out as we hoped," said the Australian conditioner who was ringing up his third 2021 win.
"I thought the other one (Ima) would lead. Either way, I just told the riders, 'don't take each other on'.
"When Ima came on the outside, I thought he would win, but Sage fired back on the inside, and just kept whacking away. It was not a great field, but they both ran to expectations."
Sage is a four-year-old by Reset and raced as Mongolian Sun in New Zealand for one second and one third for trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman while Ima, a four-year-old by Helmet, was from Australia where he boasted one second in midweek company at Caulfield in a 1440m race when known as Busby for trainer Grahame Begg.
Burridge purchased both horses through his Melbourne bloodstock agent Lou Liparota around the time racing was interrupted by the pandemic outbreak, but the MMW Stable had been more than obliging in taking over their ownership in spite of the uncertain times.
"I spoke to the owners about having both in the same race, and they just said do your best, as long as they can begin somewhere," said Burridge. "They just want to win races."
"Both horses will improve from today's run. I'll find another race for them - they both want more ground."
Wong said Sage was looking around when he found himself alone in front but when Ima edged past, he knuckled down to the task again. The Malaysian jockey keeps up his current rich vein of form to bring up his sixth win for the season and consolidate his second place on the log, two behind Ruan Maia, who has already ended his Singapore season as he is heading for Hong Kong soon.
"He had his head up and looking around when he was alone, but he picked up again. He'll continue to stay, I think," said Wong.
A'Isisuhairi told Burridge at the post-race debrief that Ima gave him a near-faultless run until he felt winning post-shy inside the last furlong.
"When he grabbed the bridle, he wanted to lay out. He didn't want to get past the other horse, he kept looking around," said the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey when then indentured to Burridge.
There was a third Burridge runner in the race, another newcomer in Hearts Of Gold (Matthew Kellady), who was not disgraced in fifth place around five lengths off his quinellaing stablemates.
Burridge said the unraced New Zealand-bred three-year-old son of Proisir, who incidentally races in his colours, can only take a great deal of benefit from that first run under the belt.
"He finished 23 length-last in a trial (to Boom Shakalaka, who incidentally franked that form with a win as a $41 chance in the next race, the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1200m)," said Burridge.
"They told me he doesn't go on Poly, and he sure improved on the turf today. He ran on nicely."
