Te Akau: Ace Wins Grp 3 in Singapore

Last season's Champion Polytrack Horse returned to top form by claiming the Group 3 $150,000 Marsiling Classic Stakes over 1800m on Sunday.

Ridden by Jose Verenzuela, Flying Fulton led throughout in scoring by three-quarters-of-a-length from Lizarre (Barend Vorster) with Ready To Strike (Steven King) a length-and-a-quarter away third.

Flying Fulton ran the 1800m journey on the Polytrack in 1min 51.48secs.

Flying Fulton (Jose Verenzuela) gives his rivals something to chase in the Marsiling Classic Stakes.

Jumping smartly from barrier three, Verenzuela was able to amble to the front in the early stages of the contest where he led the way from Black Ice (Alan Munro) and Ready To Strike back on the fence in third place.

Verenzuela was able to dictate terms at his leisure and only began to quicken the tempo passing the 600m mark. Turning for home Flying Fulton still held sway from Black Ice and Ready To Strike with Iluminado (Matt Kellady) and Lizarre starting to creep closer.

Riding with the whip in the left hand, Verenzuela kept getting the best from Flying Fulton and comfortably held Lizarre in the run to the line.

Trainer Mark Walker is eyeing off the International Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m on May 19 with 11 time winner in Singapore.

He said the gelding was likely to have his next outing in the Group 3 $200,000 Moonbeam Vase over 1800m on April 7 before heading to the Group 2 $350,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m on April 26 in the lead-up to the SIA Cup.

“I think we'll head to the International race,” said Walker. “They pay good prizemoney all the way down to sixth and we've already got people from down in New Zealand interested in coming up. I know we're aiming quite high but we can always come back a bit in grade after that."

“We'll run him in the 1800m race before the QEII Cup as he's a bit of a gross horse and can get away from us, but he's racing well and deserves his chance at the better horses.”

Walker said Verenzuela rode the perfect race aboard Flying Fulton allowing him to dictate the terms of the contest from the front.

“Jose knows the horse so well and put him in the race from the outset,” said Walker. “He stacked them up but then got rolling early. There didn't look a lot of speed in the race, a bit like last time, but things worked out differently for him this time. It's good to see the old boy back in top form again.”

Verenzuela said he had no hesitation in taking the ride aboard Flying Fulton when Walker rang him for the ride last Monday. It was Verenzuela's fourth meeting back since returning from the USA and Sunday's victory on Flying Fulton was his third victory.

Jockey Jose Verenzuela and trainer Mark Walker pop the champagne after the Group 3 success.

“I was very confident that he would win right from the time Mark rang me for the ride on Monday morning,” said Verenzuela.

“He's a champion on the Polytrack and is a better horse when he can be ridden from the front. I had watched a few of his previous races and he was ridden back and didn't have a lot of luck in those races. He's a front runner with a lot of tactical speed and he runs his best races when up at the front.”

Verenzuela's association with Flying Fulton is likely to be put on hold heading towards the SIA Cup, in particular the final two races - the QEII Cup and the SIA Cup.

“He's a very good Polytrack horse and is not as effective on the turf,” said Verenzuela. “Plus there is a horse called Flax that I have had a good association with on the turf.

“He's heading towards the SIA Cup and I will be sticking with him.”

Flying Fulton, a six-year-old Australian-bred by Flying Spur from Fulton, had 15 starts in New Zealand for two wins and a little over NZ$40,000 in prizemoney (Ed: he was bought by David Ellis for $210,000 from the Karaka Ready to Run Sale).

Sunday's victory was his 11^th from 40 starts in Singapore, of which seven of those victories have been scored on the Polytrack, and he's accumulated prizemoney in excess of $1.25 million for Te Akau Racing since his arrival.

CREDIT - SINGAPORE TURF CLUB