Talented four-year-old Sabah Ace did not let trainer David Kok down after he rushed home late for a last-gasp win in the $70,000 Born To Fly 2014 Stakes, a Class 3 race (1600m) on Sunday.
Although the son of Swiss Ace has proven himself with four wins in sprint races previously, he only bagged his first win over seven furlongs in a Class 3 race at his last start on 23 March. Kok then stepped him up to the mile for the first time, presumably testing him over longer trips as connections had loftier targets for him down the road.
But the 200m step-up in trip did not bother the Singaporean handler, who brimmed with confidence before the race and was elated after Sabah Ace duly saluted.
"I was very confident of the horse. I thought if he could handle the 1600m today, he will win," said Kok, who took home a treble after Hey Boss ($139) and Pacific Angel ($67) also won in the Clarton Super 2017 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 2 race (1100m) and the $50,000 Trudeau 2013 Stakes, a Class 4 race (1100m) respectively.
"He won before in Class 3 (a 1200m race on 23 July last year). I knew he could match up in this class.
"He has a big engine, but I was not sure if he could handle 1600m because his sire (Swiss Ace) and dam (Show Exhibit) never went over 1600m.
"But I thought he can. He's a fighter and a horse that can have a long, sustained run. I thought he'd won already at the top of the straight."
Tucked in midfield on the rails after jumping from gate one, Sabah Ace (Bernardo Pinheiro) trailed patiently in a field of 11 led by Aniki (Koh Teck Hua) before switching out at the bend.
Black Storm (Manoel Nunes) and Energy Baby (Zac Lloyd) crept up to the fading leader at the 200m while Sabah Ace made up good ground on the outside, albeit still a length or two behind the leaders. Energy Baby popped his head in front at the 150m but the plucky Sabah Ace ($47) still ran down the Jerome Tan-trained gelding by a short head in the end.
So Hi Class (Bruno Queiroz) finished another one-and-a-half lengths away in third. The winning time was 1 min 34.36secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.
Pinheiro, who pulled off a brace on Sunday after Boardroom ($13) also took out the $20,000 Nepean 2020 Stakes, a Maiden race (1600m) six races earlier, was glad he pulled the right rein after Tan also offered him a ride on first runner-up, Energy Baby.
"I actually rode the horse that ran second (Energy Baby) twice last year and won once (in a Class 4 race over 1600m on 27 August) with him," said the Brazilian hoop who was at his second meeting in Singapore after his Dubai stint.
"Jerome offered me the ride and said he's probably the winner, but I was already committed to my ride (Sabah Ace).
"The trainer (Kok) gave me the ride (on Sabah Ace) and I thought he's a good ride. I rode him twice in trackwork and I was very happy.
"He also went super in the (barrier) trial (fifth on 11 April) so I was very confident.
"Both horses challenged each other in the end and I got the nose in front. It's good I picked the right one.
"I think 1600m is good for him (Sabah Ace). He could maybe go on the 1800m as well if the pace is fast, if not he can get a bit keen."
With six wins in 13 starts, Sabah Ace has amassed over $200,000 in prizemoney for connections. However, the high of celebrating his first win over the mile was marred by the fact that he was found to have bled after the race.
Kok had revealed earlier this year his intention to run the Royal Sabah Turf Club Stable-owned gelding in the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on 9 June and the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) on 30 June, and even a possible tilt at the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on 21 July, but connections' dream is now dashed.
Sabah Ace will have to serve a mandatory ban of three months before racing again, hence he will not be able to run in any of the three feature races.
Last year, connections also had the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge in mind for him but it was not to be as he had skin abrasions on his front legs that disrupted his three-year-old campaign.
