News

No need for a Cash Advance

26th Aug 2013

Singapore Turf Club - Craig Brennan - Sunday, 25 August 2013

​Trainer Shane Baertschiger was feeling some added pressure as he saddled Cash Advance prior to the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1100m on the Polytrack on Sunday.

Cash Advance is owned by his father Don, a former long-time Singapore-based trainer who retired last year after more than 20 years based in Malaysia and Singapore.

But Baertschiger needn’t have worried as the $12 favourite, ridden by John Powell, led throughout in scoring by a length-and-a-half from Washington Bay (Alan Munro) with Hofburg Palace (Joao Moreira) a length-and-a-quarter away third.

“This is the first horse the ‘old man’ has had on his own with me since he left,” said Baertschiger. “He’s got an interest in a few others, but on his own this this is his first one.

“No doubt the sling will be good,” he joked.

Baertschiger said it took sometime for Cash Advance to make his racecourse debut as he hadn’t shown him a lot on the track until almost a month ago.

“I didn’t know what to make of him early on as he wasn’t showing us much at all,” said Baertschiger. “Then about a month ago he started to show something.

“He had a couple of trials and his last trial was quite good and the winner of that trial (Boomarang Deluxe) came out and won on Friday night.

“It’s been a pretty good win as well. He pretty much ran near his top the whole way and was entitled to get a little bit tired towards the end.

“We’re not getting too carried away with him just yet. It’s good to get this win out of the way and we’ll hopefully find another suitable race for him in the coming weeks.”

Powell, who rode Cash Advance in his last trial behind Boomarang Deluxe, said the gelding still had quite a lot to learn.

Coming around the hometurn Cash Advance wanted to shy away from the inside, but as Powell corrected him he ducked in and struck the rail.

“He shies at everything this horse,” said Powell. “He ran out and when I corrected him he ducked-in.

“I had that in the back of mind today and that’s why I just let him run and do what he wanted to do. I was worried that if I steadied him early on he would have done something like that and ruin his chances in the run.

“I had to push him out all the way to the line just to keep his mind on the job.

“He’s a little on the small side but has a big heart and in the end he’s won quite well today.”

Cash Advance was purchased for A$19,000 by Baertschiger senior at the Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.

A three-year-old by Ad Valorem from Cash First, Cash Advance collected almost $35,000 in prizemoney for Baertschiger with his debut victory.

Baertschiger made it a double for the afternoon when Faaltless, ridden by leading apprentice A'Isisuhairi 'Harry' Kasim, took out the final event of the afternoon, the $55,000 Class 4 Division 1 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack.