News

Clean sweep for Stepitup in 3YO Challenge

21st May 2013

Singapore Turf Club - Craig Brennan - Friday, 17 May 2013

He may be small in stature but Stepitup has proven to be a star of the three-year-olds by taking out the Group 1 $500,000 Singapore Guineas over 1600m on Friday night.

The Sonny Yeoh-trained gelding made it a clean sweep of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge with his victory.

Stepitup took out the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 31 before collecting the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge over 1400m on the way to his Guineas victory.

Friday night’s victory gave Yeoh his first Group 1 success after only beginning his training career last September following the retirement of his brother Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye.

And the clean sweep of the Three-Year-Old Challenge followed the series victories of Better Than Ever (2010), Gingerbread Man (2011) and Super Easy last year, all having completed the treble since the format changed to its current shape in 2010.

Stepitup also collected a $150,000 for connections having made it a clean sweep of the three races.

Ridden by Ivaldo Santana, Stepitup ($13) scored a half-length victory over the $9 favourite Super Ninetyseven (Joao Moreira) with Bendicion (Alan Munro) a further two-and-three-quarter lengths back in third place.

Stepitup recorded a brisk 1 min 34.7 secs for the journey.

The pace was steady early with four horses stretched across the track all vying for the lead – Silver And Gold (Noh Senari), War Lord (Jose Verenzuela), Super Shadow (Manoel Nunes) and Zac Spirit (John Powell) back on the inside.

Santana took full advantage of his draw of barrier five having Stepitup well positioned in the run, trailing the speed in sixth place.

Not wanting to be pocketed with those coming from behind, Santana elected to make his move prior to the turn by switching out five and six wide just prior to straightening.

He allowed the gelding to balance up before pressing the button. When he asked the gelding for his effort he quickly put a two length break on the opposition.

Super Ninetyseven had drifted back after a slow beginning but Moreira was working his way through the field getting the gelding to the outside at the 300m mark.

However, he was giving Stepitup too much of a break and was ducking in, but still finishing strongly, however the finishing line arrived too quickly.

“It’s nice to win a Group 1 race and so early in my career,” said Yeoh. “Training carries on the family tradition.

“Winning this race is better than I can expect. When I started training I didn’t expect this but I’m very happy to take it.

“I’ve got to thank the owners and the staff in the stable. Without their support I would not be here.”

Yeoh said his confident levels were high going into the race.

“I had been confident all week going into the race and especially after we got such a good barrier draw,” said Yeoh.

“I was a bit scared of the second and third horses. The third horse (Bendicion) had a lightweight and is a nice filly.

“Santana gave the horse a great ride. He had an easy run early in the race then got moving into the race at the right time.

“It’s very satisfying to win a nice race such as this.”

Yeoh had a sobering moment when Stepitup returned to the winner’s enclosure with some blood trickling from a wound to his near foreleg.

“It doesn’t look too bad at the moment,” said Yeoh. “I asked the vets to have a look at it but we’ll know a bit more in the morning.

“Anyway he’s going for a break. For such a small horse he’s done a great job.”

Santana, who has partnered Stepitup at all his eight starts, was over the moon with his first Group 1 success in Singapore, but was above all grateful he had been given the chance to ride such a good horse.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden, even including Brazil,” said an elated Santana. “He’s a small horse, but he always tries his best.

“The pace was not very fast down the back, from the 1000m to the 500m mark, but my horse was always comfortable and travelling well.

“I just waited for the home straight and he gave his usual kick in the home straight. At the 200m, I was confident I would win as I was already well clear, even though I could feel a horse (Super Ninetyseven) coming from behind.

“I am not sure what the trainer has in mind for him, but he can definitely race over more ground.”

Stepitup was a $90,000 purchase from the draft of Bellerive Stud at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale

A three-year-old Australian-bred by Hussonet from Ain’t Seen Nothin’, Stepitup has now won seven of his eight career starts and with his victory on Friday night and the $150,000 bonus has now collected around $900,000 in prizemoney for the Tivic Stable.