Prodigal gets up in thriller

[Wandering Eyes]

Karaka graduate Prodigal (NZ) (Proisir) was given a gem of a ride by the in-form jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong to get up in a thriller in Singapore on Saturday.

After late support on the tote, Prodigal settled at the rear of the field with only two horses behind him and bided his time. Once into the straight he started to steadily gain momentum.

A blanket finish was on the cards with 7 runners across the track, it was anyone’s race and no one knew where to look. “Prodigal late! Prodigal from absolutely nowhere!” was the call over the line by the excited race caller.

The five-year-old had won in the last stride for a New Zealand bred first four with a head to Born To Win (NZ) (Haradasun), with Atlas (NZ) (Atlante) another nose away in third and Green Star (NZ) (Iffraaj) another head in fourth.

Prodigal was sold by Ainsley Downs Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2019 Ready To Run Sale for $47,500 to Bevan Smith Bloodstock and trainer Michael Clements who celebrated five winners on the card and seemed to be particularly satisfied by the win of Prodigal.

“He’s a difficult horse. Mind-wise, he’s just a difficult horse to have in a consistent place all the time,” he continued.

“He’s very flighty and very fiery. We had been hoping that with time – and it has taken a long time – that eventually the penny was going to drop with him and he would settle down.

“His last win in a Class 5 race (on July 24) was okay. He’s actually been running some fair races since then.

“The mile and the way Simon rides – the style of getting back and being patient on horses – would definitely suit him.

“He’s come through, won and headed in the right direction. Finally!”

Kok – who had earlier ridden Burgundy Lad (NZ) (Burgundy) to win the Class 5 race over 1200 agreed that a patient ride was needed.

“I would say the last furlong – the last 200m – he really took a long time to wind up,” said the Ipoh-born jockey.

“He still had plenty underneath him from the 600m. He was tracking up so nice – plenty in hand.

“I was lucky – there was a big run on the inside – so I took it and he just kept winding up.

“I didn’t think I would win until the last 150m and I swapped (the whip) to the left and he started making ground – stronger and stronger.

“He’s still very immature. He will get longer and when he matures, he will be better.”

Other New Zealand bred winners at Kranji on Saturday included War Frontier (NZ) (Declaration Of War), Ksatria (NZ) (Reliable Man), & Absolute Radiance (NZ) (Contributer).

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