Yulong Xiongyin goes all the way
David Kok-trained Irish-bred maintains consistency with two wins and two seconds from four Kranji starts
After two subsequent second placings following his debut victory, Yulong Xiongyin bounced back to winning ways with a solid front-running display in the $80,000 Class 3 Division 2 race over 1,100m on Polytrack at Kranji yesterday.
Out in front after jumping from barrier 8, the David Kok-trained four-year-old Irish-bred was in total control of the race.
From the moment he secured the lead, all regular partner Benny Woodworth had to do was steer the $15 favourite in the right direction - towards the winning post.
The $22 second fancy Red Dawn was bustled up by jockey John Powell and was the only one who tried to find a chink in his armour by staying within striking distance to make sure the bird doesn't fly the coop.
Given Yulong Xiongyin was mowed down late at his last two starts, it was not such an unrealistic bid from Red Dawn. But tried as the Auric Stable-owned galloper might, Yulong Xiongyin was totally bombproof this time.
Kok's promising and speedy ward shook off the challenge with relative ease to stride away to a two-length victory.
Trainer Mok Zhan Lun's nine-year-old Pioneer Seven finished 11/2 lengths away in third with two-time champion apprentice CC Wong astride.
The winning time was 1min 05.33sec.
"I was quite confident before the race and, when nobody came to bug him in front, I knew he would be hard to beat," said Kok.
"Benny rode him very well. Once they crossed from the wide barrier, he was able to give the horse a breather and he gave another kick in the straight.
"There is always that worry another horse would jump out of the pack to run him down, but he had a soft lead today and he just kept going.
"I have no big plans for him. I may run him over 1,200m on turf again."
Yulong Xiongyin has posted his two Kranji wins on Polytrack and was also a two-time starter on the all-weather only in Ireland for a win and a second.
He did race once on turf. It was at his second run in Singapore when he was being hailed the winner at the 200m until River Golden denied him late.
Woodworth, who last week won one race in China, but not for the organiser, the Yulong group which owns Yulong Xiongyin, was delighted he had managed to knock in one win for the Chinese outfit.
"They invited me last Saturday and I rode one winner, but not for them. I'm glad I got one for them today," said the Malaysian jockey. "It was an easy win. Once I found the lead and we had full control the race, it was going to be hard for the backmarkers to get to him."
From his four starts, Yulong Xiongyin has now tipped over the $100,000 mark for his connections.
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