GHALIB DOWNS THE MONKEY

Up-and-coming 4YO rolls hot favourite after ace rider Nunes stacks up the speed in front

- Michael Lee

A perfect tactical ride by top jockey Manoel Nunes on Ghalib foiled the plans of hot favourite Golden Monkey in the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race (1,400m) on June 16.

Not many had been brave enough to tip against the 2023 Singapore Derby winner in a softer race made up of only four horses.

But it was precisely that small field, following the withdrawal of Ejaz and Senor Don, that might have caused his downfall.

As is often the case in such whittled-down fields, riding strategies come down to a battle of wits.

That is exactly how the first twothirds of the race panned out, with Nunes the quickest thinker when he sent the Steven Burridgetrained sprinter to the front.

From there, he threw out the anchors, probably even showing a little too much zeal in restraining Ghalib who had his mouth wide open while throwing his head up.

But it worked as the other three, including $7 shot Golden Monkey (Ryan Curatolo), had no other choice but to fall in line.

In such dawdling-run race scenarios, jockeys are often caught between a rock and a hard place hold their spot and get left rooted there, inject speed and burn out.