KRANJI'S VERY BIG 220 SURPRISE

Stunner saves Class 5 dweller from M’sia trip, gives Espindola 100 per cent record

- Michael Lee

Every now and then, horses' names fit their wins like a glove.

From the 10 winners at the last Kranji meeting on May 4, the one who gets that nod hands down has to be Very Surprise.

Grammar Nazis may nitpick on the missing "d" to Surprise, but connections and the rare lucky punters who backed him would have had little time for nouns and adjectives when the $220 shot upset the applecart in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race (1,600m).

You could hear a pin drop when the previous one-time winner finally revisited the winner's circle on his 25th Kranji run.

But, ironically, when the Star Witness five-year-old suddenly remembered his way home, he was well on his way to another home of the stable kind.

"I've actually already booked him to go to Malaysia," said trainer David Kok.

"He needed just two points to qualify. He had to run at least a place today, and he won, which was a big surprise indeed.

"If he had run unplaced again, then no choice, I would have to book another slot."

With the handicapper deeming his come-from-behind 3/4-length win a five-point hike, the ticket was booked.