Four winners to welcome the Ongs back
Trainer Jason Ong bagged a four-timer on Saturday, a timely welcome for his family who, along with many owners, were finally allowed back at the races after a long time.
The in-form Singaporean handler was firing on all cylinders as Per Incrown (Per Incanto), Surrey Hills (Sweynesse), High Voltage (High Chaparral) and The Wild Prince (Rip Van Winkle) saluted at the all-weather meeting, and interestingly, all from the front.
Per Incrown (S$40), a recent stable transfer from fellow Singaporean trainer Jerome Tan, and newcomer Surrey Hills put on brilliant front-running displays to take out the first two races.
Previously trained by ex-Kranji trainer John O’Hara, High Voltage (S$35) made all in the S$30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1200m three races later, before The Wild Prince (S$60) also followed the same pattern to take out the S$30,000 Class 5 Division 3 race over 1200m.
Per Incrown, High Voltage and The Wild Prince are seasoned gallopers who brought up a rare treble for local jockey Koh Teck Huat, while Surrey Hills still had his greenness to overcome before he drew clear for partner Oscar Chavez.
“We have always had a high opinion of him, but he still has barrier issues,” said the naturalised Singaporean from Panama.
“Barrier 11 was a bit of a concern, but he was so quick. He pinged the gates and jumped right through.
“I’ve got plenty in hand but he was just looking around, in and out. I had to guide him properly in the race.
“He only switched lead at the last 150m, and that’s why I got a bit worried. He kept switching leads at the last few strides too.
“I ride him everyday but he is very green. He still has a lot to learn, so I prefer him over the shorter distances for now.”
Ong concurred with Chavez’s comments, even if he was quietly confident of a win from the three-year-old.
“I like the way he trialled, and I thought he’s going to be a straightforward, speedy horse,” said Ong, who is now tied in second place with Michael Clements on the trainers’ premiership on 16 winners but sits third on a countback for seconds.
“My family (dad and mum) are at the races and now, they can come down and take winning photos with the horse, it’s a special moment for us. All credit to Singapore Turf Club.
“I am very happy with the win, but he has room for improvement, I’ll see how he pulls up and take it one step at a time with him.
“I bought him from a trial in New Zealand from a good friend of mine,Tim Carter.
“My dad (Mr Ong Boon Hin) is a part-owner, and he owns him with a group of other locals. They are the bosses of Surrey Hills Grocer (Australian Grocer and café), and hence his name.”
Racing in the purple with orange stars silks made famous by the Ong family’s champion horse War Affair (O’Reilly), Surrey Hills sprang the gates just as he did at his two winning barrier trials.
The S$12 favourite gapped his rivals in the straight to finish two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Dixit Dominus (Dissident), who just nosed The Star (Hallowed Crown) out into third.
The winning time was 1min 06.11 secs for the S$75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on the Polytrack.
Surrey Hills has earned more than S$45,000 in prize-money for the Warplan Racing Stable at his first win.
In line with guidelines from the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, the Singapore Turf Club will reopen progressively to welcome back spectators. The Club has allowed owners and their guests to be back at the races on Saturday, but racing remains behind closed doors to the public till further notice.