Never-Say-Die Debt Collector Home in Raffles Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

by Alan Carasso

Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), a multiple champion and Singapore’s Horse of the Year two seasons ago, recaptured some of his old glory Sunday afternoon, passing all 12 of his rivals in the final 400 metres to snatch victory on the line from the Hugh Bowman-ridden Circuit Land (Mizzen Mast) in the S$1-million Raffles Cup. Singapore Derby hero Jupiter Gold (Congrats) plugged on late to finish a gallant third.

Drawn three from the outside, Debt Collector was void of early speed, but Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven {Aus}), blinkered for the first time, was not, and he galloped them along at a good tempo. Bowman saved all the ground on second favourite Circuit Land and Jupiter Gold settled slightly better than mid-division, but Debt Collector was switched off at the tail, as is his custom. Countofmontecristo had them really stretched out, but was going great guns and pinched what looked to be a winning margin entering the final quarter mile. Circuit Land took full advantage of his soft trip to go on the attack and was always getting to the pacesetter, but Debt Collector, despite never looking particularly likely-especially after lugging in towards Jupiter Gold inside the 200m-attacked the line and got home first.

Debt Collector was racing second-up from a five-month spell at Newhaven Park in New South Wales and was well-bet to improve for his comebacking second to Preditor (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) in the 1400-metre Jumbo Jet Trophy Aug. 12.

“This is amazing. It was a phenomenal win,” trainer Cliff Brown said. “Of course, I was concerned when he was so far back. We always have doubts, especially with the way this horse runs, but he was just fantastic in the straight. It’s been a funny old week as Michael had always been very confident, he said ‘we’ll just win’, but I wasn’t so sure as I’m such a pessimist. The horse went back to Australia, and we weren’t sure if it would pay off. The boys and girls at the stable have done an amazing job with him. I’ll just savour that moment. I will open that bottle of red with my wife tonight.”

The Raffles Cup is the first leg of the older horse Triple Crown series, which continues with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) Oct. 21 and the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) Nov. 11.

Debt Collector is kin to a 3-year-old filly by Shamexpress (NZ) and a yearling colt by Zacinto (GB). Prompt Payment was most recently served by Windsor Park stallion Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).

Sunday’s Results:
RAFFLES CUP (1ST LEG SINGAPORE TRIPLE CROWN SERIES), S$1,000,000 (£560,367/€623,838/A$1,004,950/
US$731,763), Kranji, 9-23, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.47, gd.
1–DEBT COLLECTOR (NZ), 128, g, 6, Thorn Park (Aus)–Prompt Payment (Ire) (MSP-Eng), by In the Wings (GB). (NZ$30,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL; NZ$120,000 2yo ’14 NZBRTR). O-Barree Stable; B-Windsor Park Stud Ltd; T-Cliff Brown; J-Michael Rodd; S$595,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Miler & Ch. 3yo-Sin, 20-9-2-2, S$2,239,816.
2–Circuit Land, 128, g, 7, Mizzen Mast–Storm Dove, by Storm Bird. (80,000gns HIT ’14 TATHIT). O-Ngo Tai Tak. S$212,500.
3–Jupiter Gold (Aus), 128, g, 5, Congrats–Contented (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$130,000 Ylg ’15 MMGCYS). O-Jupiter Gold Stable. S$107,500.
Margins: HD, HF, HD. Odds: 1.20, 3.60, 6.00.
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.

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