Sabah Ace returns to the winners circle

[Wandering Eyes]

Sabah Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) secured his spot in the lucrative 4yo series with his first win in nine months in the S$50,000 Class 4 1400m race under a gun ride by jockey Vlad Duric.

After jumping from gate one, Sabah Ace stalked the speed and sailed past in the straight to win easily by three-and-a-quarter lengths on the line.

Previously a four-time winner in races over 1100m and 1200m, Sabah Ace has now won five races in 12 starts and amassed closed to S$170,000 for connections.

The Gerry Harvey bred son of Swiss Ace was sold by Westbury Stud at the 2021 Ready To Run Sale for $50,000 to trainer David Kok.

It was good news for connections and fans as Sabah Ace had not won since his last win nine months ago in a Class 3 race (1200m), but some Kranji racegoers were probably more concerned with news of his winning partner Duric returning to Australia on Sunday.

It was definitely not a case of bidding Kranji farewell for good but the four-time Singapore champion jockey, who hit his 700th milestone win atop Pacific Spirit for Kok last Sunday, will be commuting between Singapore and Brisbane for the rest of Kranji’s racing season.

“Things are still being worked out, but I’ll be based in Brisbane. I’ll ride there on Saturdays but I’ll also fly back for some of the Sunday meetings here.”

Duric and Kok, who also became a trainer in his own rights in 2009, have combined for several wins in the past 15 years and Sabah Ace would unlikely be their last fruitful partnership in the remaining six months before Singapore racing draws the curtain.

Speaking about Sabah Ace, Duric reckoned the longer trip and fast pace suited the Royal Sabah Turf Club Stable-owned gelding.

“He’s better going up to the 1400m. It was perfect for us when the pair went fast in front,” he said.

Kok echoed the same sentiments and now that Sabah Ace has proved himself with a win on the 1400m, the Singaporean handler was even more assured of running him in the Silver Bowl (1400m) on 9 June and the Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June at his four-year-old campaign.

“They went crazy in front and 1400m suited him better,” said Kok.

“We aim for the 4YO races, but the (Singapore) Derby (1800) would still depend on how he runs.”

Of the three feature races opened only to four-year-olds, Singapore Derby will be run three weeks after the Stewards’ Cup.

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