Wind Rhapsody is no world-beater but his maiden Kranji win at his 11th start on Sunday adds another winning tick to his owner Galahad Racing Stable and their resident stallion Screen Hero.
A winner of the Japan Cup as a 40/1 longshot in 2008, Screen Hero (x Grass Wonder) is probably better known for his post-racing deeds in the barn, being the sire of Japanese champion Maurice.
Owner Mrs Teruyo Tsukawaki retained her shares in Screen Hero when he was retired to stud in 2010. When she decided to support fellow Japanese Hideyuki Takaoka in Singapore in 2017, she needed not look too far afield to find horses to fill her stable – all five up to now have been by Screen Hero, and all named with the word 'Wind' somewhere.
The most successful was without a doubt the very first ambassador, Dance In The Wind , who won three races in a promising career that even saw the mare race at elite level, but which was cut short when she broke down in a Kranji Stakes B race in February 2019.
Of the other Screen Hero's who raced in the Galahad blue and yellow silks, Wind Trail has acquitted himself well with four wins, and could even be a feature race candidate for his four-time Singapore Gold Cup-winning trainer following his recent fast-finishing second to Elite Incredible in a Kranji Stakes B race over 1800m.
There is, however, a bit of a gap in class next with Hero In The Wind the author of one solitary win in a lowly Class 5 race in 30 runs, leaving Wind Rhapsody and Wind Of Liberty as the only ones to not have saluted at Kranji – until Sunday when Wind Rhapsody ($15) franked his recent improved form (two thirds and one second at his last three starts) with a maiden victory salute at his 11th start in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race (1600m).
Takaoka was certainly pleased he had saddled another Screen Hero winner for Mrs Tsukawaki, but at the same time realistic in his assessment of the four-year-old from a future perspective.
"It's nice to have another winner for the Galahad Racing Stable. They send only Screen Hero's here as they are shareholders in that horse, both as a racehorse and as a stallion," said Takaoka.
"Wind Rhapsody is a full brother to Hero In The Wind (both out of Kirarin). He's been showing some improvement lately.
"But I don't think he'll get up to Class 2 or 3 like Dance In The Wind or Wind Trail who are probably the best horses they sent to me. He may get up to Class 4 one day.
"Oscar Chavez rode him at his last start (closing second to Sayonara in a Class 5 Division 2 race over the Polytrack mile on July 10), but he's suspended. I put Marc (Lerner) on and he rode him in typical Marc style.
"He's ridden him once before and he knows him quite well. He settled him at the back and timed his run very well."
Wind Rhapsody looked to have his job cut out when he swung for the judge standing the leaders around eight lengths, but under Lerner's dynamic riding, he rushed home to deny Street Party by three parts of a length - and Hakim Kamaruddin a hat-trick of wins after he scored earlier on Qaidoom and The Big Easy (see previous reports).
Pacesetter Helushka (Mohd Zaki) was being hailed the winner at the 200m when he kicked clear by two lengths, but Street Party and Wind Rhapsody pounced on him as he shortened up. Alwin Tan's galloper still fought on bravely for third place another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 38.54secs for the Polytrack mile.
With that account opener, Wind Rhapsody has banked in around $25,000 in stakes, courtesy of three placings gained at his previous runs for the Galahad Racing Stable.
Meanwhile, Hakim, a runaway leader on both senior and apprentice jockeys' ladder, did go on and notch a third win with his master Mark Walker's Sacred Judgement ($52) in the penultimate race, the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m to extend his lead further. On 39 winners, the gifted Kelantan-born rider is 10 winners clear of Danny Beasley in the senior riding ranks and a whopping 24 winners clear of Krisna Thangamani among his peers.
