Singapore Derby winner Top Spin pulled-up in good order despite posting the worst run of his career at Kranji last Friday night.

Having his first outing since winning the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m on July 13, Top Spin, ridden by in form jockey Saimee Jumaat, was beaten more than 10 lengths in beating just one runner to the line behind Capablanca in the $125,000 Kranji A Stakes over 1200m.

It was by far the gelding’s worst performance of his career that now stands at 22 starts for 13 wins and a further seven placings.

It was the first time the now five-year-old has finished further back than fourth.

Top Spin – who has the habit of laying-in during his races – showed that trait on Friday night and weakened over the concluding stages of the race.

“He’s pulled-up fine,” said trainer Laurie Laxon. “I wanted Saimee to ride him with the whip in the left hand.

“It was only after he ducked in and hit the rail early in the straight on a couple of occasions did Saimee actually put the whip through to his left hand.”

Top Spin raced very keen in the early stages of the race and was running in fourth position as the field settled down, a couple of lengths behind winner Capablanca.

But his trademark finish was missing. He was outsprinted in the early stages of the straight and wanted to lay-in and over the final stages he just coasted to the line.

Laxon said he would step-up Top Spin’s work load before he contests his next assignment – the Group 1 $500,000 Kranji Mile over 1600m on October 19 which will be followed by the Group 1 $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m three weeks later.

Top Spin has also been nominated for the Group 1 Cathay Pacific International Mile in Hong Kong in December.

“The Raffles Cup is his main target and then we’ll decide about Hong Kong after that,” said Laxon.

Meanwhile impressive winner of Friday night’s Kranji Stakes A – Capablanca - has pulled-up in fine order but trainer Don Baertschiger said the gelding will probably not race again until November.

“I want to keep him as fresh as possible,” said Baertschiger. “There is another Kranji Stakes A in about three weeks time but I think I’ll keep him for an Open Sprint in November.

“That should work out just right for him. Then we can decide whether we’ll go to Hong Kong with him.”

Baertschiger has nominated Capablanca for the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Sprint over 1200m in Hong Kong in December and has earmarked the $125,000 Open Handicap over 1200m on November 14 as Capablanca’s next outing.
(Source: Singapore Turf Club)