Dead Heat Drama

It was a finish so close on Friday night at Kranji that the judge could not separate them!

In the type of finish not too often seen in Singapore, the Te Akau Singapore trained Ready Fortune finally broke through for the win he so richly deserved - albeit having to share the podium with the Laurie Laxon trained Foreign Exchange (who incidentally with his apprentice claim had a 2.5kg advantage over the horse we know as "Basil").

Ready Fortune has been tantalisingly close to victory on many occasions in his Singapore career.  In fact he has been five times runner up and seven times third or fourth in his 22 start career there.  Friday was his night and with top Singapore rider Manny Nunes aboard, he was not to be denied.

It was a nail biting finish in the S$35,000 Class 5 1600m on the polytrack -  shadowing his eventual dead heater, Ready Fortune settled in ninth and was masterfully moved into sixth before mounting his challenge in the straight.  It might have appeared that second would be his lot again as Foreign Exchange headed him but under the urgings of Nunes he stretched out to make his claim and as you can see from the photo finish shot - in a head bobber, they could not be split.

While he was sent out a short priced favourite he did have the top weight and a wide barrier draw to contend with as well as the often challenging 1600m starting point.  So all in all - a top effort!

A 4YO by More Than Ready from Bahira, Ready Fortune was selected and purchased by David Ellis from the Karaka Premier Sale in 2011 for $135,000 for Fortuna Syndicators.  He has now won close to $85,000 for his proud connections.

Unlucky not to have been a previous winner, Ready Fortune became Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker's 31st winner for the season - with six and a half months complete, Mark lies sixth on the Trainers' Premiership with $1.6 million earned for our owners. He has also trained 39 runners up and 32 third placegetters.