Classy filly Mexican Rose (Volksraad) showed she was not quite ready to brood yet following her gutsy win in the $125,000 Shin Min Cup (1200m) on Friday, writes Michael Lee. Already booked on a Melbourne-bound plane with Jolie’s Shinju, the Volksraad three-year-old had been earmarked for a new role as a broodmare in the breeding barn shortly after her unplaced run in last May’s KrisFlyer International Sprint, but not before she gives Singapore racing a few last hurrahs.
The gallant filly certainly endeared herself to her legion of fans even more with that eighth victory from 11 starts. After jumping smartly, Mexican Rose eased out of a speed battle between Bionic Boy (Falvelon) and Ntini (Johannesburg), which the former eventually won, before coming from a cosy trailing position to wear down a very brave Bionic Boy in the last strides. New Target (Iglesia) was third another 1 ½ lengths away.
“She’s an absolute champion. It was a good game win as she had to carry weight,” said a delighted Laxon. “It was a much harder race tonight. She was up in weights whereas in her earlier races, she’s always raced with lighter weights.
“She was already booked to leave for Australia on August 23. I’ll need to have a rethink about things but I think she may still have another race left in her,” said Laxon.
“I spoke with Saimee (Jumaat) after the race and he said she was looking for 1400m. That may be the race I’ll be looking for her, but I’ll look through the programme.”
Saimee, who has been her winning partner to all her eight wins, felt particularly pleased he had kept his faultless record on the New Zealand-bred filly, and had also “pulled the right rein”.
“After I jumped off her and Better Than Ever after their barrier trials (which they both won) on Tuesday, I told Laurie Mexican Rose was fitter,” said Saimee. “That was my opinion but I left it to Laurie to decide. I’m glad I’ve backed my judgement and he’s gone with it too.
“The plan was to go forward and I was even prepared to take Mark (Gallagher) on, but when the other horse (Ntini) came, that played into my hands. I was happy to take a sit back and the fast pace ensured she got a nice trail behind. It took a while for her to peg the leader back but that was because of the 6kg weight difference between Bionic Boy (52kg) and her (58kg).
“But all credit to her. She just loves to win, you know.”
Mexican Rose, who was sent off the punter’s elect at $9, has now returned stakes money in excess of $630,000 to the Jupiter Stable. She ran the 1200m of the Kranji Stakes A race in 1min 9.85secs.