Trainer Steven Burridge won his second Queen Elizabeth II Cup when Trigger Express, the less fancied of his pair of runners, came out tops under a superb ride by Eric Legrix.

Burridge, who will never forget the first Cup he won with King And King in 2006 when Her Majesty was on hand to present her trophy, was feeling on cloud nine after Trigger Express outwitted his seven opponents in the $350,000 Group 2 race (2000m).

“It was a great honour to meet Her Majesty when I won this race two years ago but this horse gives me great satisfaction as well,” said the Australian.

“He’s just a most consistent and honest horse. He showed his ability when sixth in the Singapore Gold Cup last year after blowing the start.

“We took him up to Penang but he found trouble in the run before we gave him a break and turned our attention to these races.

“He won impressively first-up coming from last and then there was just no pace on for him last time.

“He’s just a dyed-in-the-wool stayer. We thought there wouldn’t be a lot of pace so we decided to go forward and try and turn it into a staying test.

“He just gradually kept increasing the tempo and he proved himself today as a promising stayer.”

Itmaybeyou (Din Azis) broke the best and crossed from his barrier 5 to settle into the lead, followed in close attendance by Trigger Express. Favourite Top Spin (Noel Callow) had opted to race in mid-division this time but seemed his usual relaxed self.

At the 1200m, Legrix however peeled his horse one out and took the lead from Itmaybeyou to set his own tempo. Royal Admiral (Gavin McKeon) had Mr Line (Barend Vorster) on his outside right behind, while Top Spin suddenly seemed to lose ground at the 800m.

Trigger Express turned the corner with plenty in hand and did not look like faltering at any stage. Top Spin and World Delight (John Powell), Burridge’s other runner, in his wake, were closing in well but they never looked likely to catch the leader, who was showing no signs of running out of puff at the head of affairs.

In the end, the chasing pair could not even get the better of Itmaybeyou who did well to hold on for second spot, 1 ½ lengths away. Top Spin ran third a neck away with World Delight running fourth another half-a-length away.

Legrix was understandably overjoyed after capturing his first Group win at Kranji since relocating from Macau last Setember.

“This is a great thrill to win such a prestigious race here in Singapore. It’s a race which is well known around the world and I’m super proud to have won it,” said the Frenchman.

“This horse has been unlucky lately and Steven told me he would change tactics with this horse today. He told to get to the lead if they slow things up in front.

“When Din Azis did that at the 700m, I didn’t want to fall in his trap and took the initiative to go forward.

“I know that my horse doesn’t have the best of turn of foot so I didn’t want him to get flat-footed if they turn that into a short sprint.

“In the straight, he just kept giving and all I had to do was to keep him awake and he never weakened all the way to the line.”

Trigger Express, a six-year-old by Citidancer, was already a winner of the Group 3 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) last year, before he added the coveted QEII Cup to his resume. He has now earned in excess of $800,000 for the Funds Stable.

Burridge did not miss the opportunity to give special praise to wife Julie and his dedicated staff following the victory.

“They have just been great,” said Burridge. “Julie’s so great and does a lot of work with the horses while I couldn’t ask for a better staff.”

The one downside to his victory on Sunday was that his father Harold was not around to see Trigger Express give Burridge his second QEII Cup win.

Harold passed away last Friday. Burridge senior, a former jockey, was in Singapore to witness King And King take the QEII Cup and met the Queen during the presentation.

Burridge is hopeful that Trigger Express will gain a start in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000 metres on May 18.

“I think he’s got the form to be a worthy local contender,” Burridge said. “He’s a good stayer and doesn’t mind it wet if it happened to be that way.”

Trainer Brian Dean was ecstatic with the run of Itmaybeyou, despite the fact jockey Din Azis lost the use of his reins at a crucial moment.

“Unfortunately Din Azis dropped his nearside rein in the straight because my bloke is a horse who needs to be picked up all the time,” he said.

“I hope he will gain a start in the SIA Cup after that run.”

Callow said Top Spin was in need of a rest after his third placing.

“He was very dour out there today,” Callow said. “He needs a break and to freshen up.

“He’s not a machine. He’d done a great job winning three feature races in a row.

“I knew I was in a bit of trouble 1000m out. They clapped on a bit of speed between the mile and the 1200m and my horse was off the bit.

“He just couldn’t pick them up. He kept grinding home but there was no spark about him today.

“A freshen up may just do him the world of good.”

Jockey Powell was not too disappointed with World Delight’s fourth but conceded they had been beaten by a better horse on the day.

“We went forward from the back straight and followed Top Spin as he was the best horse in the field,” said Powell. “But he did not finish off the way I thought he would, but it was still a game effort.”
(Source: Singapore Turf Club)