Kranji's $50,000 Class 4 race over 2,000m on Feb 24 was quite a wide-open contest, but trainer Daniel Meagher was all along quietly confident his runner Pacific Bao Bei could snag it.
The former UK-based stayer does not win out of turn, having greeted the judge only once in nine starts in Singapore.
But the Sea The Stars five-yearold had often been thereabouts, as his record of three seconds and three thirds would attest to.
Such consistent record put him in good stead for a forward showing, but Meagher's bullishness stemmed more from a study of his overseas records.
In a short English career, when he was known as War Horse and prepared by Marco Botti, Pacific Bao Bei registered his two wins over 2,000m at Goodwood and Sandown.
At his new Kranji base, save for his debut win over 1,400m, the only times he finished out of the placings was when the trips were 1,400m or shorter.
"I was very confident. He won his two races in UK over 2,000m," said Meagher.
This story is from the February 27, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the February 27, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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