​A realistic Steven Burridge is brutally honest about Akubra's chances of improving his third placing from the third Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series four weeks ago as he tackles the fourth Leg on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Though Akubra is meeting his victor from the Inglis Sydney Juvenile Stakes (1100m) on Polytrack, Master King, on two-kilogram better terms in the $95,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Preview (1200m) on turf, the Australian handler still reckons his charge has his job cut out.
Akubra is not only facing a stiff task in overturning a 7.8 length beaten deficit at the hands of the Laurie Laxon-trained galloper, but he will also be taking on the latest recruit from “King of the Kids” trainer Michael Freedman's youth academy – Super Good.
“He was beaten by '12' lengths by Laurie's horse,” said Burridge in mock exaggeration.
“He's very average and I can't see him making up half of that on Friday.
“Laurie's horse is too good. I can only hope he keeps improving.”
Ridden by Matthew Kellady (who will be aboard again on Friday) at his debut, Akubra settled at the rear after a sloppy start. The moderate pace enabled him to improve from the rear but he then lost two lengths at the 800m when he steadied off the heels of another runner.
He still made some late ground but Master King was already off and gone. Burridge is now only hoping the son of Hat Trick, well named by the Fair Dinkum Stable after the iconic Australian cattleman hat, has improved a few lengths and can hopefully better his result.
“Michael's new horse is also in it and that makes it even harder for us, but he can only continue to learn what racing is all about,” said Burridge who captured two of the seven Legs last year with Dark Matter.
The 2010 champion trainer is on the other hand more upbeat about his Sunday winner Peaceful Warrior backing up within five days in tonight's Kranji Stakes C event (1400m).
After the Bel Esprit four-year-old revelled in the mud to easily master his 11 rivals in a Class 3 race over 1400m, Burridge thought he had pulled up well enough to have another bite at the cherry.
“He pulled up okay after his race and I thought why not take advantage of his good form,” said Burridge.
“It would be nice if it rains again, but he's got 58kg (4.5kg penalty) this time, and we don't want it to be too sticky either.
“It looks to be a fairly similar type of race as last Sunday's and I don't see why he won't run well again.”
Rounding up the small team sent by Burridge on Friday is debut winner Excel N Strike who is stepping up in class in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 93 race (1200m) but carries the luxury load of 50kg this time.
Burridge was guarded about the Exceed And Excel's hopes for a back-to-back double given the recent spate of rainfall.
“He's trained on since his debut win, but I would prefer it not to rain on Friday,” said Burridge.
“He's raced on a couple of wet tracks back in Australia and he was a bit disappointing. I hope the weather holds up but looking at how it's been raining lately, I doubt it.”
Sunday's 12-race programme is shaping up as a significantly busier day for Burridge, though, with a dozen of them facing the starter, none more accomplished than Group 1 winner Speed Baby.
After two unplaced runs over 1200m and 1400m back from a spell, last year's Patron's Bowl (1600m) winner is expected to find the mile of the $125,000 Open race more his cup of tea, but the back-breaking 59kg gives some causes for concern.
“The trip will suit him better, but he would have been better off in a Weight-For-Age race,” said Burridge.
“Still, he's improving and I hope he starts showing a bit of form on Sunday.”
