Proinn Construct Pty. Ltd. - Racing begins on Polytrack

Hideyuki Takaoka will go into the Singapore history books as the trainer who saddled the first winner on the newly-launched Polytrack circuit at Kranji on Saturday.

Noted for his previous high strike rate on the now-defunct Fibresand races, Takaoka continued his good record with alternative tracks when Astra Torres won the $65,000 Restricted Maiden (2 & 3YO) race over 1200m.

Astra Torres.jpg

Astra Torres and Adam Fiezan take the first race on the Polytrack.

While the lead-up feedback around the spanking new track, which was completed two weeks ago, has been all positive, the acid test still remained to have the track undergo actual race conditions. While the time of 1min 15secs may appear slow, the field was relatively well bunched up except for a few stragglers at the back, while the kickback was minimal.

The first two past the post – Astra Torres and Daring Knight were in the lead for most of the way, but second runner-up Keytokash ran home strongly from the rear.

Takaoka was honoured to be part of Kranji history, but refused to be branded the new “Polytrack” specialist.

“It’s just the first race. I was just lucky to be the first winner,” said the Japanese.

“I didn’t train my horse specifically for this race. I was looking for a 1200m Restricted Maiden race and it so happened this race was run on Polytrack.

"But I did tell Adam (Fiezan) to race handy, or even lead if he could. Though the new track does not seem to have any leader bias, it was the first race and I didn't want to take any chances.

"Besides this horse races better when in front."

And Takaoka certainly does not want to adhere to the adage “horses for courses” at this point in time.

“I won’t stick him (Astra Torres) to Polytrack races. He will race on turf as well,” he said.

“Like I said, it’s too early to tell if there is any sort of pattern coming out from these races. Besides it will take at least four or five races for the track to reach its peak.”

Fiezan was also a new fan of the synthetic track.

“The track felt great. And it is a bonus to ride a winner at its first race as well,” said Fiezan who recently completed a three-month suspension. Astra Torres was his first winning ride since he returned to race-riding on September 21, and his first since Jeram Sunshine on May 9.

Mark Gallagher, who rode third-placed Keytokash, was high in his praise for the surface.

"For a track to race as well as it did so early is a credit to all those involved in putting the track down," said Gallagher. "From the top, all the way down to the bottom, they all deserve a pat on the back.

"There is still room for improvement. This was only the first race on the track. It was still a little soft and fresh but it's only going to get better with more work on it.

"The more we race on it and the more we work on it, it's going to improve all the time.

"It's a great track."

French jockey Eric Legrix, who rode Solar Express to a sixth place was equally full of praise for the track.

“Superb track. It makes no difference if you are on the speed or take a sit, you are still in with a chance in the straight,” said Legrix.

Jockey Matthew Kellady, who rode debutant Incredible King, was racing in second last position as the field settled down, but said there was a big difference between the Polytrack and the old Fibresand surface.

"I was out the back and there was a little kickback coming at me," said Kellady. "But it wasn't hurting when it hit you in the face like the old surface did.

"It's going to keep improving and get better as time goes on."

The inaugural Polytrack race was unfortunately marred by a pre-race incident behind the gates when jockey Sam Subian was dislodged by Dollars & Cents. He was later diagnosed with a broken leg.

Bad luck continues to dog Sam as he had just returned from a neck injury following a fall from Langston at the start of a race in April 2007.