3 minute read

Trainer Desmond Koh is not about to change a winning formula after welcoming a fourth win from up-and-coming sprinter Coming Through in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack on Friday night.

Polytrack sprints (1100m-1200m) have made up the El Hermano four-year-old's main repertoire thus far, with his quartet of wins all recorded on the alternative track cementing further that strength.

At his only test on turf, he ran sixth and returned lame.

After Coming Through charged home between runners to get the better of a handy $70,000 Class 3 field for his first salute over 1200m on Polytrack, it made sense why Koh said he would rather not take the gelding out of his comfort zone at his next outings in the foreseeable future.

"If it ain't broke, why fix it? I will stick to 1200m, he showed a lot of fight, a lot of heart, tonight," said the Singaporean conditioner.

"The pace was quick, if it was any slower, he would probably have needed more distance. He loves the Polytrack and I'll stick to such races for now."

Raced by Koh's 2012 Emirates Singapore Derby winner Chase Me's owner Tan Huat Stable, Coming Through is quite some way off that calibre for now, but he is certainly shaping up as a handy moneyspinner following his fourth win paycheque in seven starts bringing up his bank account around the $110,000 mark.

After coming off a smothered run in the middle of the pack, standing the leaders around five lengths off a nippy pace, he had to do it the hard way at the business end, though.

Bullocking his way to the finishing line at the 200m was Nationality (Iskandar Rosman), and passing him was proving to be no mean feat, but on his near side, Coming Through ($20 favourite) stuck to the task, wearing him down every step of the way.

On the outside, last-start winner and class upgrader Beau Geste (Juan Paul van der Merwe) was also gunning down the leaders, but under Beuzelin's powerful riding, Coming Through finished a shade better to gain the verdict by a head from Nationality.

Beau Geste peaked on his run to settle for third place another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.33secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.

Beuzelin, who was ringing up a riding double after he won aboard Knight Love (see earlier report) in Race 2, was in the mood for love on this Valentine's Day. At the winner's circle, the French man showed his romantic side by raising a hand heart, no doubt addressed to fiancée Zoe.

It's been a testing last few weeks for the Bajan-raised and English-trained jockey. Careless riding suspensions had ruled him out for 13 meetings all up since November, with the double hopefully heralding a renaissance of sorts.

"It's great, but like I said, I just want to stay away from the Stewards' room," he said.

"This win (Coming Through ) means a lot to me. I rode this horse at his last start when he ran on for third, it's been teamwork, we've prepared this horse to be spot-on for this race.

"The plan was not to be so far back. At the back of my mind, the pace was too fast.

"This horse is so great, he is so brave, and caught up with the first horse. He is a gentleman of a horse and he deserved the win.

"The further he goes the better he goes. We don't know his limits, but he'll probably come on from tonight's run."