PACIFIC VAMPIRE GOES SCARY FAST

Trainer Ong makes a morning clean sweep with Major King, Angel Baby winning, too

- Brian Miller

His name can make your hair stand. His strength and stamina make him even scarier.

And, as his rivals at the trials on the morning of Sept 12 found out, he takes no prisoners.

Yes, such is his prowess that Pacific Vampire could be something right out of the pages of a Bram Stoker novel.

A pity, therefore, with just four race days left, Singapore's racegoers will not be able to see him in all his glory.

So it was a treat in itself to see Pacific Vampire trot out for the trials.

Taken out by Bruno Queiroz, Pacific Vampire was neatly into stride and, on settling, the only danger looked to come from Makin, the mount of Manoel Nunes.

They matched strides but, even before they reached that first bend, Pacific Vampire - fangs showing had put two lengths between himself and the leader of the chasing pack.

The margin was four at the 600m mark and when the field straightened, Pacific Vampire was - as they say in racing - home and hosed.

The others tried to make dents into his lead but they were only kidding themselves. The five-year-old kept eating up the Polytrack and, when the finish loomed, he had put seven lengths on the runner-up Makin.