It may not have been a traditional prep run for the Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup in two weeks’ time, but Makin will likely line up in the iconic handicap feature race after a gutsy victory in the SG$100,000 Class 1 race at Kranji on Saturday.
Punters were spot on the money with the Steven Burridge-trained five-year-old by Written Tycoon jumping as the favourite in the small but elite six-horse field.
Despite having only six runners, the race was both a tactical and thrilling affair with just half a length separating the first four horses across the line.
Makin (Manoel Nunes, white cap) beats off a strong challenge from Big Union (Bernardo Pinheiro, red and white striped cap) and Big Hearted (Carlos Henrique) to take out the Class 1 race (Pic – STC)
Upon jumping, second favourite Pacific Vampire (Bruno Queiroz) took the early lead as expected but under a decent hold as the 1400m trip was a query for the sprinter.
Reigning champion jockey Manoel Nunes made a tactical move at the 1000m to shadow Pacific Vampire into the bend, with the pair putting about seven lengths on the rest of the field at the 650m.
Into the straight, Nunes put pressure on the leader but Pacific Vampire kicked and put two lengths on Makin at the 350m. But with 150m to go, Pacific Vampire got the wobbles late while Makin upped the ante towards the post.
The Al-Arabiya Stable-owned gelding got the better of the battle with 50m to go but in another twist, Big Union (Bernardo Pinheiro) and Big Hearted (Carlos Henrique), who were five lengths back at the furlong post, flew late to make it a blanket finish on the line.
Makin held on by a short head over Big Union in the end, while Big Hearted ran another neck away in third. Pacific Vampire finished another neck away in fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 22.06 secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
With the first four runners over the line all nominated for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October, the results meant a lot to Burridge.
“It was a relief,” said Burridge, who scored a hat-trick of wins after Empowering and Galaxy Bar also won the SG$30,000 Class 5 race and the SG$50,000 Class 4 race respectively.
“He’s big-hearted. He usually gets beat by a head but he won by a short head!
“I thought the stablemate Ghalib would be a lot closer. He usually races a lot handier.
“And I didn’t think Makin would be quite as close but he had to so as to put himself there for a winning chance.
“But the main thing was that he won. I hope he pulls up all right. It was a hard run.
“Just disappointed about the handicaps, after the win, in the Gold Cup. We’re probably only going to get about six kilos off a 10-time Gr1 winner (Lim’s Kosciuszko).
“But at this stage, Makin is a runner in the Grand Singapore Gold Cup, provided he pulls up okay.”
Nunes, who also rode a treble after Elliot Ness claimed the SG$50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race and Fearless Warrior scored in the SG$30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race, reckoned that fighting spirit of Makin made the difference in getting the win but noted he was still an unknown quantity over 10 furlongs.
“Pacific Vampire is a tough horse,” said Nunes, who now has 54 wins but sits second to Queiroz on a lesser countback for seconds.
“The 1400m on the Long Course is a question mark for Pacific Vampire and that helped me.
“But because no one else went, so I had to go and chase him earlier. I worked my horse a little earlier but he’s a tough fighter and we just got there.
“For now, it’s still a question mark if he can get the 2000m though.
“Still, it’s a good win for owner Mansoor Gandhi of the Al-Arabiya Stable.”
Makin’s fifth win from 19 starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over SG$380,000 for connections.
