Unbeaten Inferno Outstanding in Golden Horseshoe

Karaka graduate Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) extended his unbeaten record to two out of two with a dominant performance in Friday’s S$250,000 Golden Horseshoe (1200m) at Kranji.

Bought for $140,000 from Westbury Stud’s draft during the 2018 Book 1 Sale, Inferno began his career with a stylish two-length victory over the same distance on July 7. Friday’s prestigious juvenile feature was the stage for a highly impressive repeat performance.

Inferno again settled in midfield in the Golden Horseshoe, and he was trapped three and four wide without cover for a large part of the race.

But when jockey Michael Rodd asked him to accelerate at the top of the straight, Inferno quickly put the result beyond any doubt. He burst to the front and went clear to score by the same margin of two lengths.

“I just wanted to keep him out of trouble early,” Rodd said. “There were a lot of quick horses on my inside.

“I was three and a half wide, but he switched off so easy for me. He just rested out there and just travelled, he was never under pressure.

“Straightening up, I just wanted to get closer to JP’s (John Powell) horse (Hotshots Slam) to see what he’s got. We came next to him, and I thought we got there a bit too early, but he just went past him so easily.

“I just gave him a backhand. He laid in a little again, but he was better than at his last start.

“He’s a remarkable horse, he’s got such long, big strides.”

Trainer Cliff Brown was equally delighted with his young star’s performance.

“There was always a concern he was on a 12-day back-up,” he admitted. “He had a lot against him going into the race.

“You always get a bit swept in by the emotions after the win, but it was a great win today. It was also a tough win and he will go for a break now. I may bring him back for the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m) at the end of the year (November 10). It’s a race for three-year-olds now.”

Raced by the Barree Stable, Inferno’s perfect two-from-two career to date has earned more than S$174,000 (NZ$189,000) in prize-money.