The Jerome Tan-trained Big Union made it three straight wins on Sunday at Kranji after he easily accounted for his rivals in the SG$70,000 Class 3 race over 1100m.
Despite taking on a very competitive field of Polytrack sprinters, punters did not miss the four-year-old son of Zoustar as he was being sent out as the even-money favourite.
Big Union (Bernardo Pinheiro) clears out for a comfortable win in the Class 3 race on Sunday (Pic – STC)
Bransom (Jerlyn Seow) secured the early lead after jumping, before he was being crossed and headed by second favourite Aniki (Wong Chin Chuen).
Meanwhile, jockey Bernardo Pinheiro took advantage of a good jump from gate five to hustle Big Union into a prominent position one-back with cover, while Lord’s Command (Bruno Queiroz) settled on his outside.
Turning for home, the field bunched up as Dancing Light (Ryan Curatolo), General Command (Faiz Khair) and January (Carlos Henrique) all tried to make their presence felt, until Big Union took control of the race at the 300m.
In a matter of strides, the race changed complexion with Big Union quickly putting a length on the chasing pack. Although General Command and Aniki fought on valiantly, the race was all but over by the furlong post as Pinheiro eased Big Union down to the wire over the final 100m.
General Command did well to hold on at long odds of SG$217 to run two-and-a-half lengths back in second while Pacific MV (Krisna Thangamani) ran on strongly late to finish another one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third. Aniki finished another short head back in fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 4.76secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack. Big Union’s fifth win from eight starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over SG$180,000 for the Cat Racing Stable.
His record was made even more remarkable because Big Union was lucky to survive a colic attack before he even set foot in the races in Singapore.
“The Singapore Turf Club Veterinary Department gave him a 30% chance of survival,” said Tan of his 20th winner this season.
“He had colic only a couple of weeks out of quarantine. Dr Dan Shaw did a great job in the surgery, but it was touch-and-go if he’d survive at all.
“So, for him to win one race, let alone five out of eight, is already amazing.
“But we were confident today. The horse has scope and always had potential to go through the grades.
“Bernardo had no complaints during this preparation, so we thought he would run well today if things went his way.
“The win was impressive though, as I don’t think Pinheiro pulled the whip in anger.
“It’s a shame STC is closing but he will get the chance for another win. He deserves it after what he has been through.”
Singapore racing comes to an end after Kranji holds its final race meeting on 5 October, which will feature the Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on its race card.
Pinheiro shared Tan’s sentiments and although the Brazilian hoop’s celebratory gesture before the finish lightened his pockets by SG$500, he could not hold back his emotions.
“I was so emotional with Big Union so no excuses for celebrating before the finish but it was money ‘well-spent’,” said Pinheiro, who pulled off a double on Sunday after Fortune Wheel also took out the SG$30,000 Class 5 race (1400m) seven races earlier.
“This horse has given me so much. That was his fifth win after what he went through colic.
“The distance did worry me, but I was very confident if things went right early in the race, we would win.
“But it hadn’t been a good day for me with Strike Gold missing the start (in the SG$30,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m and ran fourth), which costed him the win.
“So when Big Union jumped well and we sat behind the speed, I knew we would be very hard to beat. I only had to use the whip once to keep his mind on the job and stopped riding him a hundred metres out.
“Jerome did an amazing job to keep him fresh and have him ready for this distance. The horse did the rest.
“He will stay in Class 3, so there is a race or two we can choose from before the end and another win would be well deserved.”
