Westbury Stud graduate Inferno put on what looked to be an exhibition gallop when running away with the S$400,000 Lion City Cup (1200m) at Kranji on Sunday.
In his typically economical debriefing style after the country’s premier sprint, trainer Cliff Brown said the Holy Roman Emperor four-year-old was “something else”.
A few minutes later, after emerging from the jockeys’ room, Vlad Duric said he had never ridden any horse quite like Inferno in Singapore.
Brown had expressed some misgivings about the drop from the mile at his last victory in the Singapore Guineas (1600m) on September 26 to 1200m, taking on the cream of the sprinting crop at Kranji, mostly seasoned competitors at level weights, for the first time.
Eased down towards the line, Inferno had two and a quarter lengths to spare from the New Zealand-bred Mr Malek with a slick winning time of 1:08.28 for the 1200m.
Brown showed his huge relief.
“To come back from the mile to 1200m, it’s very hard to do, but he did a great job. This horse is just getting better and better,” Brown said.
“I’m very pleased. I’ll wait a while and decide what next, but to be honest, I’m not sure what is next for him.
“There isn’t much left for him. We may wait for a Class 1 race or we may even give him a break, we’ll see how he pulls up.”
With that facile win in the Lion City Cup, Inferno has now amassed S907,672 in stakes money for the Barree Stable.
Out of the Redoute's Choice mare Spina Rossa, Inferno was purchased by Brown for $140,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2018 Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka. He was a successful pinhook having been sourced from the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for just $10,000 from the Newhaven Park draft.
The star galloper has now won eight of his nine career starts. - NZ RAcing Desk
