South African racing fans held their breath in the final strides of the SG$300 000 Gr1 Queen Elizabeth 11 Cup at Kranji on Saturday as the Katak fairytale looked to be making a thrilling comeback.
The big son of Ridgemont Highlands stallion Potala Palace left his homeland over a year ago with a five-from-five record that included the Cape Winter Series triple crown.
Hard Too Think (Lerner) edges out Katak – the Vasco Stables familiar pink and blue cap is in the background (Pic – Singapore Turf Club)
After two below par starts for trainer Ricardo Le Grange in Singapore, and with an improved trial under the belt on 7 October, not too much was expected from Katak on Saturday, with some of his fans having moved on.
But it was a half length and Marc Lerner – his partner at his first two Singapore starts – that was to shatter the dream comeback.
Coming off a ground-saving third place on the rails, despite breaking from the widest alley (10), Marc Lerner and eventual winner Hard Too Think had only Katak (Matthew Kellady) in his crosshairs inside the concluding stages after race-leader Minister (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) faded out of the race.
For a few fleeting seconds, the prospect of witnessing Katak, coming good at his new Singapore venture in a feature race was looking on the cards, but Lerner had other ideas.
The French jockey, who was certainly enjoying the rub of the green after winning three races earlier (Miracle, Hyde Park and Siam Warrior), must have got a whiff of a fantastic four-timer coming in a Group 1 race when he peeled Hard Too Think across the weakening Minister to collar Katak.
If some still doubted a winner at level weights against his own age group could get on terms with a Cape Winter Series Triple Crown winner in open company, the resounding reply came soon enough.
Hard Too Think moved upsides of Katak at the 200m before forging clear to a most impressive half-length win with Lerner easing down late.
The winning time was 1min 48.32secs for the 1800m on the Long Course.
The Sporting Post has requested a comment from trainer Ricardo Le Grange.
