While owner Jayven See was at the Gold Coast on the lookout for his next superstar, wife Kathy was enjoying the spotlight of leading in another winner when Field Marshal in the last race, the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m at Kranji on Friday night.
As predicted by most pundits, Field Marshal’s biggest foe was Siam Royal Orchid (Joseph Azzopardi), and the Shamus Award four-year-old certainly lived up to the tag by giving the $12 favourite and his supporters a mighty fright when he grabbed first run on Field Marshal, who was a couple of lengths astern right through the race.
Field Marshal (Ben Thompson, No 5) outbobs Siam Royal Orchid (Joseph Azzopardi) to claim Race 8
Ben Thompson aboard Field Marshal and Azzopardi, Kranji’s two Australian whiz kids, slugged it out for a battle royale in which Field Marshal came out victorious by only a short head. Roughie Atlantean (Saifudin Ismail) rocketed home late for third place less than two lengths astern.
The winning time was 1min 11.17secs for the six furlongs on the Polytrack.
“I’m Down Under shopping for horses at the Magic Millions, while Kathy continues to enjoy the cheers with the Ultima Racing in Singapore,” said See in reference to the up-and-coming racing lifestyle outfit tied in with the Middle Kingdom Stable.
“Well done to (trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) for a great training feat – it’s never easy to get a three-from-three nowadays – and Benny Thompson for a great ride!”
The Australian jockey, who partnered Field Marshal for the first time at his second win, lavished praise on the light-framed chestnut.
“We settled further back (eighth) than we would have liked. The speed was good and I was glad I was able to follow the horse to beat, Siam Blue Orchid, and keep him in my sights the whole way,” said Thompson.
“It was a great duel, and you couldn’t possibly know which way it would go as Siam Blue Orchid is also a lovely horse and he ran on well. He didn’t do anything wrong, but my horse was just too good on the day.
“I have a lot of respect for the way Field Marshal has come up against older horses tonight. I was quite confident he could hold a margin on them, though.”
Le Grange has targeted Field Marshal at the Gr3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m), which will be for the first time be run as a three-year-old race, on November 10.
