Trainer Stephen Gray looks to have a smart galloper on his hands following the win of Convict in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1200m on Sunday.Having just his second start, Convict, ridden by Alan Munro, scored a one-and-three-quarter length win over Freezemaster (Matt Kellady) with Martin (Joao Moreira) a length-and-a-quarter away third.
On debut Convict ran up against Taichi Master, finishing two lengths astern, with Taichi Master since going on to record another win in smart time in Class 4 company.
“I knew after this horse had his first start that I had a fairly smart horse on my hands,” said Gray.
“I’ve got a lot of time for the horse that beat him on debut and I knew my horse had improved from that run.
“He’s a horse that we have taken along quietly. He’s pretty mature and he’s a big strong horse who should get over a bit further.”
Munro allowed Convict to work to the front in the early stages of the race and led the way over the heavily backed favourite Modern Man (Oscar Chavez) with Freezemaster and Glimmering (Greg Cheynne) in close attendance.
Soon after straightening for home Munro clicked Convict into another gear and the four-year-old quickly opened up a winning break on his rivals with Freezemaster also holding on bravely for second place.
Gray, who is also a part-owner of the gelding, purchased Convict as a late three-year-old after seeing him trial in New Zealand.
“My agent got in contact with me and said he had found a nice horse,” said Gray.
“He won his trial on a wet track in New Zealand which didn’t really impress me, but then I had another look at him and thought it was better than it looked.
“He was a big strong type and I thought there was some natural improvement in him and we decided to take a chance on him.”
A chance meeting in Brisbane last year with a group of Australian owners saw them take a share in the gelding with Gray the manager.
“I met this guy in Brisbane last year who was interested in racing a horse here in Singapore,” said Gray.
“He said to give him a ring when I found the right horse, so I decided to put him into this one.
“I think the owners are going to have a bit of fun with him.”
A four-year-old by Mossman from the Jade Robbery mare Snowdropping, Convict gets his name through his dam.
‘Snow dropping’ is an Australian term for someone who steals women’s underclothes from their washing lines.
Gray later completed a double when Boomz, ridden by Joao Moreira, scored a two-and-a-quarter length win in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 2000m.
“I’ve got a lot of time for the horse that beat him on debut and I knew my horse had improved from that run.
“He’s a horse that we have taken along quietly. He’s pretty mature and he’s a big strong horse who should get over a bit further.”
Munro allowed Convict to work to the front in the early stages of the race and led the way over the heavily backed favourite Modern Man (Oscar Chavez) with Freezemaster and Glimmering (Greg Cheynne) in close attendance.
Soon after straightening for home Munro clicked Convict into another gear and the four-year-old quickly opened up a winning break on his rivals with Freezemaster also holding on bravely for second place.
Gray, who is also a part-owner of the gelding, purchased Convict as a late three-year-old after seeing him trial in New Zealand.
“My agent got in contact with me and said he had found a nice horse,” said Gray.
“He won his trial on a wet track in New Zealand which didn’t really impress me, but then I had another look at him and thought it was better than it looked.
“He was a big strong type and I thought there was some natural improvement in him and we decided to take a chance on him.”
A chance meeting in Brisbane last year with a group of Australian owners saw them take a share in the gelding with Gray the manager.
“I met this guy in Brisbane last year who was interested in racing a horse here in Singapore,” said Gray.
“He said to give him a ring when I found the right horse, so I decided to put him into this one.
“I think the owners are going to have a bit of fun with him.”
A four-year-old by Mossman from the Jade Robbery mare Snowdropping, Convict gets his name through his dam.
‘Snow dropping’ is an Australian term for someone who steals women’s underclothes from their washing lines.
Gray later completed a double when Boomz, ridden by Joao Moreira, scored a two-and-a-quarter length win in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 2000m.
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