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Always thereabouts since his first Kranji win in April, Songgong Hera finally got back on board with a resounding win in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Sunday.
Well specked into $27, presumably on the back of his creditable third to Makkem Lad when tested in stronger Class 2 company at his last start a fortnight ago, the former Sydney two-time winner (both at Kembla Grange 1200m for Peter & Paul Snowden) won by coming from off the pace this time round as opposed to his all-the-way win in a Class 4 race over 1000m on April 10.
Trainer Jason Lim said that he was aware from the get-go the Spirit Of Boom five-year-old formerly known as Warfare was more of a backmarker in Australia, hence his preference to adhere to that racing pattern here in Singapore.
"In Australia, he won coming from behind. When he won here, the instructions were to sit handy, but he went to the front, he was probably fresh," said the Singaporean handler.
"I wanted him to settle better and today he's shown his true capabilities. He's a horse who's got upsides.
"He's still a bit keen when challenged, but today, Iskandar had him quite relaxed off the speed. If he can settle better, he can get over more ground.
"Kudos also to (assistant-trainer) Richard Lim who has done a lot of work on this horse."
Songgong Hera actually looked to have the job cut out when the resuming Sure Will Do (Simon Kok Wei Hoong), who led from the start, pinched a break at the 300m, even if he was wobbling around a little.
After charging from an outside gate to match motors with Sure Will Do midrace, favourite Heartening Flyer (Vlad Duric) was already a spent force, and looked unlikely to land a blow at that moment.
On the other hand, Resolution (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) was issuing a cheeky challenge on the far side, but well driven by Iskandar, Songgong Hera, who had been warming up to the task from a long way out, powered home when it mattered inside the last 150m to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Resolution with Sure Will Do third another neck away. The winning time was 1min 10.69secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
The two wins and three placings from nine starts have swollen Songgong Hera's account to a little under the $100,000 mark for the Everest Racing Stable.
"I'm happy for the owners, Mr Chng and his son. Mr Chng is currently a bit down with the way Singapore horse racing has been going, so hopefully this win will lift his spirits," said Lim.
"He used to have Hurrian with us, but Hurrian went to Malaysia (now known as Boy Kingsley and trained by Richard Lim's brother Wayne Lim Woei Chet in Kuala Lumpur).
"Songgong Hera is the only horse he's got with us now. Let's hope things will improve and the Chng's can buy another horse for us soon."
