Newhaven Park

​It was not as easy as the last time, but promising galloper Zac Spirit did not let his legion of admirers down with a gallant win in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 89 race over 1400m on Friday night.

Rave reports flew around after the way the four-year-old son of Flying Spur thrashed his Class 3 rivals for a close to six-length victory a fortnight ago, even if trainer Cliff Brown did caution the win was probably made to look easier after Simple Pleasures suddenly dropped out of the race following a bleeding attack.

Punters still rallied to Zac Spirit’s chances on Friday night, sending him as the outright $9 favourite in the small but competitive nine-horse field, unfazed by the fact he had also drawn the widest alley (nine).

Joao Moreira and Zac Spirit on their way to victory on Friday night.

As it turned out, the Zac Stable-owned gelding was caught three deep throughout the race, unable to tuck in for some cover at any stage of the race. But once Moreira gave him his head at the top of the straight, class prevailed as Zac Spirit quickly asserted his superiority to sweep past the tiring Lamborghini Flame (Greg Cheyne) before working home strongly for a 1 ¼-length win over City Lad (Tengku Rehaizat) with Tom (Alan Munro) flashing home late from last to clinch third place by three parts of a length.

The winning time was 1min 21.95secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

Brown said he would not be rushing Zac Spirit, his 38th winner for the year, despite stringing up two impressive wins in a row, although he did have the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) on October 6 at the back of his mind.

“Gee, it was a really tough win tonight. He was caught three wide and had no cover, but still did it well in the end,” said the Australian handler.

“He had really thrived since his last win. His work last Tuesday was tremendous.

“He’s only a baby, and had a pretty big prep. I’ll be careful not to do too much with him at this stage.

“We’ll see how he pulls up tonight and then decide where to after tonight.”

Unbeknownst to the majority of racegoers, including Brown himself, Moreira had a fleeting scare halfway up the home straight when he actually lost his left iron at the 300m.

“On TV, it looked like he was hanging in and I was having some trouble with him, but my foot actually came off the iron as he switched strides and became unbalanced,” said the Brazilian who was at the third Leg of a four-timer (Zac Heaven, Superb Success and Board Walk were the other winners).

“Luckily, I was able to get my foot back in over 1 ½ strides, and he just quickened so well in the last 100m.

“Even though he won more easily last time out, I would say he didn’t quite put it altogether then, but tonight he did.

“He was travelling on the bit, even though he was three wide, but I couldn’t get him in and couldn’t get the cover that I would have liked.

“When I asked him, he just stretched his legs out so well and there was no way the other horses would pass me.

“I think he can go up to 1600m now and I would say he is ready to face the big boys now.”

Zac Spirit has now recorded four wins and two placings, including a third to Stepitup in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), in only seven starts for stakes earnings edging close to the $230,000 mark for his owners.