FLYING NEMO THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Pacific Vampire toothless at 3rd start, bubble burst by 281 shot

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Death and taxes are still the only certainties in life.

That was the stark reminder in Race 10 on May 18, when raging favourite Pacific Vampire got rolled, slain by $281 long shot Flying Nemo.

Yet, nothing untoward could have foretold his downfall in the $70,000 Class 3 1,400m race, the penultimate event in the 11-race programme.

By the time the Kranji Mile was put astern, favourite backers had more or less had a good day filling their pockets.

Out of nine races, five firstelects, Buuraq Sixty-One ($19), Lim's Saltoro ($6), Greatham Boy ($14), Super Baby ($16) and Lim's Kosciuszko ($7) in the Kranji Mile, had obliged.

The others, Centurion ($30), Cheerful Baby ($31), Ace Of Diamonds ($27) and Hole In One ($34), were also in the market.

Value chasers who had been seeking the next roughie to buck the trend probably thought of skipping Race 10.

The unbeaten Jason Ong-trained Pacific Vampire had frightened them off.

In two races and three trials, he had obliterated his rivals by an aggregate of almost 28 lengths.