On Line outsprints his rivals to take out Race 5 in Singapore on Friday night. (STC)
On Line (NZ) (O’Reilly) made a winning racing comeback in the S$50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m on Friday night.
The O’Reilly four-year-old has not been sighted since his maiden win at his fourth start in a mile race for Restricted Maidens back in July.
Trainer Michael Clements has given the Thai-owned gelding more time to mature further, with Friday’s result coming as a lovely reward for his patience.
Sporting blinkers at his last two starts, On Line raced without them first-up, a decision which proved astute, especially going with the way he powered home when jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin set him alight at the 300m.
Short-priced favourite Arnantara (NZ) (Darci Brahma) had by then gained the upperhand on race-leader Black Quail (NZ) (Coats Choice), but seemed to lack that zip to draw clear when the whips cracked.
On the other hand, On Line was moving a lot more fluently. Arnantara tried to put up a fight when Clements’ galloper came upsides, but stayed one-paced for second spot 1 ¾ lengths away.
Pearl King (NZ) (Iffraaj) filled the last minor spot another three-quarter length away. On Line stopped the clock at 1min 10.5secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Assistant-trainer Michael White said they decided to lose the shades after On Line displayed no ill-effects from not having them on.
“He had the blinkers on at his last couple of runs, but he showed in his recent trials and trackwork he went super without them,” said the Australian.
“He got back and that surprised us, it wasn’t the plan. They walked, but he attacked the line very well.
“Louis was very confident. Louis is a real asset to us, we have the right rider and the right horses, we should be doing very well.”
Beuzelin said he was only worried if On Line was not a little rusty at that first outing in four months.
“I was not sure he was 100 percent fit. He scared me 100m out when he got his head up,” he said.
“I thought he hit his reserve tank. There is more to build on, he needed the run and will improve.
“We didn’t have the best of starts with the loose horse holding up the start. He jumped a bit sluggish, but I made sure he enjoyed a nice run and he showed his class in the end.”
With that second win in five runs, On Line has now taken his prizemoney level close to the S$100,000 for the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable.
Bred by Waikato Stud, On line was sold through their 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling draft before returning to the ring later in the year when purchased by Mr K Chittaseni and Waterford Bloodstock as a Ready To Run two-year-old out of Ohukia Lodge’s consignment.
