Fairway's Turf Online

Rodd steers Clutha Lad to comeback win

SINGAPORE: Mar 20, 2015

CLUTHA LAD staves off the challenge of VERGLATICA for a
comeback win - SNTC photo

Michael Rodd, granted an extension to his current licence during the week, celebrated the good news with a masterly ride on CLUTHA LAD to win the Benchmark 67 - 1800m handicap at Kranji here tonight.

The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey allowed the New Zealand gelding to settle in the rear of the nine-horse field but made a strategic move on the outside of horses on the home bend to hit the front in the home stretch.

CLUTHA LAD then held off the late bid by VERGLATICA to win by half a length for his fourth win in 22 starts. It was his first win in five outings this season after being out of action for seven months due to a bleeding attack in the middle of last year.

Initially granted a three-month licence from Jan 1, Rodd has quickly established himself in the Singapore scene with 22 winners to date. He will now remain in Singapore until the end of the year.

"It’s fantastic I got renewed. I enjoy it so much here," said Rodd who is second in the table behind champion jockey Manoel Nunes.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
4	VITALLY SECRET	S Burridge	CW Brown	1
	(4 ch.a.g Vital Equine - Sunny Corner by Metal Storm)
1	Octivia	L Laxon	R Rueven	2
9	Right Is Right	Khoo	B Vorster	3
8	Johnny Hates Jazz	S Yeoh	WS Chan	4

2	INITIATION - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
12	STAR GENERAL	Khoo	A Munro	1
	(3 b.a.g Mint Lane - Lifting by Zabeel)
6	Sun Pioneer	D Koh	Woodworth	2
2	Five Hundred Bucks	B Marsh	M Rodd	3
1	Bonjour Bob	S Burridge	Kellady	4

3	BENCHMARK 67 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)
2	CLUTHA LAD	M Walker	M Rodd	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Thorn Park - Maggies Farm by Forest Wildcat)
1	Verglatica	S Burridge	CW Brown	2
4	Nation Theatre	S Burridge	Kellady	3
5	Justice World	S Burridge	J Powell	4

4	KRANJI STAKES D - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3	ANGRY CAT	HW Tan	Chavez	1
	(5 ch.a.g Estambul - Philliann by Bellotto)
7	Benji's Empire	S Burridge	R Firdhaus	2
1	Dreamcatcher	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
2	Farrand	D Kok	Y Salim	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
9	KING OF KOON	O'Hara	Saifudin	1
	(6 b.nz.g Bachelor Duke - King Kei by Kingsttenham)
5	Winfrey	O'Hara	M Rodd	2
6	Affirmation	M Walker	C Newitt	3
1	Cassis Oolong	H Takaoka	Zaki	4

6	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	HAPPY SAGA	HW Tan	T See	1
	(3 br.a.g Real Saga - Nepro by Orpen)
1	Exceptional Choice	B Dean	Aslam	2
9	Jet Set	B Dean	R Zawari	3
11	Street Ruffian	S Lam	Chavez	4

7	KRANJI STAKES C - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	BELLWETHER	M Freedman	CW Brown	1
	(4 br.a.g Bel Esprit - Final Act by Came Home)
7	Lively Dragon	S Yeoh	Zaki	2
5	Honest Truth	T Kieser	Soo	3
6	Dragon Spirit	HW Tan	T See	4

8	KRANJI STAKES D - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	HAPPY HAPPY	HW Tan	C Newitt	1
	(3 b.a.g Red Dazzler - Zippast by Lord Seymour)
6	Grand Vitess	S Gray	H Syafiq	2
7	Rough Dance	S Baertschiger	J Powell	3
11	Bimala	D Hill	D Flores	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
6	TOU SHOU BRIGHT	H Takaoka	Sam	1
	(5 br.a.g Carry The Flag - Sportsgail by Final Card)
9	Racer King	T Kieser	R Rueven	2
7	Brahma Circus	M Freedman	CW Brown	3
2	Crazy Times	B Dean	C Newitt	4