BESTSELLER BOUNCES BACK IN COMMITTEE'S PRIZE THRILLER

Le Grange’s yard star makes amends for Fortune Bowl run with his second G3 win

- Michael Lee

Gutsy galloper Bestseller proved again how tough he is to get past when things go his way, with a second Group silverware on March 9.

At his last start in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl on Feb 11, the 1,400m trip, an awkward alley and the handicap all worked against him.

Four wide with no cover throughout, he was a spent force early in the straight, petering out to 10th place to Golden Monkey.

Back to the drawing board one month later, the Dream Ahead four-year-old had, on paper, a better fighting chance in the $110,000 Group 3 Committee's Prize.

For a start, the mile was more up the 2023 Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1,700m) winner's alley.

With the Committee's Prize a handicap feature without the mandatory 56kg slapped on the back of Group 2 or 3 winners like for the Fortune Bowl, he was gifted the luxury load of 50kg.

But, perhaps the best ally in his corner was marble one.

Unless first-time partner Carlos Henrique one of the rare seasoned lightweight jockeys at Kranji who would not ride him overweight fluffs his lines, he should enjoy a more ground-saving run on the rails this time.

The Brazilian jockey, who was at only his second Kranji meeting, but opened his account with Santino in the first race, turned in a textbook ride.