Honest galloper Ready To Strike took full advantage of a dream run on the rails coupled with a forceful ride from top jockey Joao Moreira to lift the $200,000 Group 3 JBBA Moonbeam Vase (1800m) right on the line on Sunday.

After travelling handy throughout, the always game Lizarre (Barend Vorster) was headed for victory at the 200m, but Ready To Strike and champion mare Better Life (Alan Munro) were looking to snuff him out as they stormed home to pave the way for a thrilling three-cornered fight.

Lizarre on the inside looked like he could outlast the other pair, but digging deep into his reserve tank, Ready To Strike ($24) lunged late to get his head in front while Better Life, who was resuming from her Singapore Gold Cup triumph last November and was tackling 1800m first-up, battled valiantly, but her lack of racing fitness maybe told in the last 50m as she peaked on her run to run third, another neck away. 

Ready To Strike (Joao Moreira, middle) bursts through between Lizarre (Barend Vorster) and Better
Life (Alan Munro, red blinkers).

On a day when one record was broken and many excellent timings were registered on the newly-resurfaced turf track, Ready To Strike continued the trend when he stopped the clock at 1min 46.65secs, only 0.34 second slower than Superb’s course record.

Winning trainer Laurie Laxon said Ready To Strike was a horse who seldom disappointed and highly deserved the accolades for a first Group victory.

“His form is always good and he’s always thereabouts,” said the seven-time Singapore champion trainer.

“Joao wanted to ride him as he thought he could win, and he was proven right. He gave him a dream run thoughout and they got the upperhand right on the line.

“That’s a horse I’ve always held in high esteem. I was preparing him for the Singapore Derby last year, but he went amiss and I sent him to Malaysia for a long break.

“He’s stayed sound ever since and really deserved to win a feature race. I may look at the Queen Elizabeth II Cup if he pulls up well and probably the SIA Cup.”

Mr Phil Tan of V-Day Stable, trainer Laurie Laxon and jockey Joao Moreira celebrate their success.

Laxon has about a couple of weeks to weigh up his options as the $350,000 Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) is run on April 26, while the $3 million International Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) is run on May 19.

Moreira said the win brought echoes of his very first Group 1 success in Singapore, Intercept, also prepared by Laxon, in the Patron’s Bowl in 2010, as both winners race in the V-Day Stable white and green chevron silks.

“I have good memory of that first Group 1 win with Intercept. It’s nice to get another Group win for the same owners,” said Moreira who was incidentally bringing up a five-timer with the Moonbeam Vase success, having scored earlier with Arapuni, Breaking Vaults, Touch Of Gold and Palombaro.

“I was very happy where I was in the race. When the pace picked up and the gap came up, he showed his usual big turn of foot.

“When Lizarre put two or three lengths on us at the top of the straight, he just kept fighting, and that is what makes him such a nice horse to ride. I knew if he was good enough, he should be able to catch Lizarre.

“Credit to Laurie and the boys, who have again done a good job to get him ready for this race. The owners have always shown me plenty of support as well.”

Moreira said he had the utmost respect for Better Life in the race, but harboured a silent hope the first-up run from a lengthy spell might be the only factor against her.

“On paper, she was the horse to beat as she’s such a champion mare. But she was back from a long break and going straight to the 1800m first-up, which is no easy task,” he added.

“If there was a day she could get beaten, that was the day, and we’ve done it.”