‘The Count’ takes the Chairman’s Trophy

– Short-priced favourite Countofmontecristo took the $400,000 Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) as expected at Kranji on Saturday, but what was probably less expected was the come-from-behind manner of the win.

Trained by Michael Clements, his previous eight wins – between 1200m and 1400m – were mostly recorded after settling in the first few.

On Saturday, those who took on his $9 odds, were running out of fingernails to chew on when they hit the 800m mark.

He was ahead of only Mr Clint (Patrick Moloney) and What’s New (Michael Rodd), cooped up on the rails, and caught in a backwash of regressing horses.

But it turned out French jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin had simply allowed himself to blend into a race that was surprisingly packed with pace in the first 400m and then just trusted his horse to do the rest.

“I had done my homework and saw all his races. My main goal was to get him as relaxed as possible in the running,” said Beuzelin, who came to Kranji in August, with a globetrotting resume boasting around 300 winners, with the 2014 Group 1 Bangalore Derby (Agostini) the highest acclaim.

“I was only scared there wouldn’t be any speed and that’s why we thought we’d race handier at first. But they went really quick and I decided to drop back.

“However, I was a bit concerned there was no gap coming up at the 600m, and I was around horses who were stopping.

“I actually had to create the opening. Once he saw daylight, he showed he was a cut above the rest and went all the way.”

For Beuzelin it meant his first silverware in Singapore.

“I’ve won a Group 1 in India, the Cesarewitch Handicap in the UK (2010 aboard Aaim To Prosper), but this is my first Group win in Singapore. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Beuzelin.

Clements, the Zimbabweanborn handler, was himself quite blown away by his 16th Group winner.

“The plan was to get back in midfield as we thought there wouldn’t be a lot of pace on paper,” said Clements.

“But there was a fast pace, and even though he got back further than we expected, it still worked out good.”

Countofmontecristo is nominated for the US$6 million Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) and US$1.5 million Group 2 Godolphin Mile (1600m) on dirt at Meydan on 28 March.

An invitation will hinge on the selection committee. – Singapore Turf Club