New Zealand Group 1 winner Warhorse came out for his first Kranji barrier trial on Tuesday morning, but was obviously still some way off his Singapore debut despite crossing the line first.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Ridden by jockey Joao Moreira and now prepared by leading trainer Mark Walker, the General Nediym four-year-old (with blinkers on) went at a jogging pace in the small field of four runners before working home nicely to hold off stablemate Brahms & Liszt (Manoel Nunes) by a neck, two lengths clear of the third horse, Two M And M (Barend Vorster).
Though Warhorse appeared to be in good shape, it was clear Walker was loath to hard-push him at such an early stage of his preparation at his new home, especially when his glowing credentials speak volumes about his ability.
From 13 starts with the first 10 run in New Zealand before he was campaigned at the Sydney’s Autumn Carnival a few months ago, Warhorse boasts a handy record of three wins, all at “black-type” level.
He first landed the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old for Walker’s successor at Te Akau Racing, Jason Bridgman, followed by a close second to Choice Treasure in the Karaka Million (1200m) before bouncing straight back to Group 1 success in the Diamond Stakes (1200m). He then added the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) to his resume before Singapore owner Tang Weng Fei of Better Than Ever fame decided to send him to premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller for a stab at the riches across the Tasman Sea.
In three runs, Warhorse, who was then renamed Tougher Than Ever given there was another thoroughbred by the name of War Horse, coincidentally also prepared by Waller, did not win, but ran second in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm last February.
Walker said that first barrier trial was only a first step towards his road back to full race-fitness.
“He’s only been with us for 2 ½ months and he’s still at an acclimatising stage. He’s still looking tucked up after he had a few hard runs back in Australia,” said Walker.
“I’ll be monitoring how he pulls up from today’s trial and I should be able to know which way to go at the end of the week.”
Walker said he had not mapped out any ambitious plans for the newcomer, but would be keen to see him compete at the highest level at Kranji one day, even if the Sydney stint fell short of desired results.
“He was probably a touch below Sydney class. He’s quite a good horse on wet tracks, but bombed out on the hard tracks in Sydney,” he said.
“Anyway, I think it was always the owner’s plan for him to come up here. He’s still got a long way to go before he gets his first race, and we’ll just have to see how he copes.
“He’s done nothing wrong up to now and I was pretty happy with his barrier trial today. I told Joao to just give him an easy time out there.
“I don’t have anything planned for him at this stage, just let him go through his grades. As he’s got older, I think he’s more of a 1200m-1400m sprinter, but he should be able to go up to a mile.”
Moreira concurred with Walker’s appraisal that Warhorse is not quite down to the short strokes yet, but he could feel he already oozed class at his first leg-up.
“Even though he’s not at his top, he went really well in his barrier trial today. I could tell straightaway he’s class material,” said the three-time Singapore champion jockey.
“He did it ever so easily all the way to the line. I didn’t have to call upon him for him to go through his gears.
“I think his connections will have to be patient with him, though, and give him plenty of time to reach his best. Soon, he will be successful here and I hope I will be associated with him right from the start.”
Walker was also pleased with Brahms & Liszt’s second placing in the same barrier trial, a sure sign he had trained on since his slashing debut second to Kate’s Keeper in a Restricted Maiden race on July 28.
“I was very happy with his first run. He was always going to come on from that whatever he did on that day,” said Walker.
“I will set him for an Initiation race on September 1 as he is still eligible for it.”
Another new name who is getting geared up for his maiden run for Walker and the Jupiter Stable headed by Tang is a Snitzel three-year-old called Hofburg Palace, who is set to run in the Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on Sunday.
“He seems like a nice typical sprinter. He ran in two trials in New Zealand, won one and ran fourth at the next,” said Walker.
“He ran in one here and ran third. He raced a little green on that day, but I think he is a Top 4 chance on Sunday.”
The long-time Singapore trainer’s premiership leader has recently seen his lead melt away to the point he is now only ahead on a better countback for seconds than Laurie Laxon and Michael Freedman, all on 47 winners. Walker is, however, not casting any nervous glances over his shoulders as he said his “weaker squad” could only let him live on borrowed time at the top.
“We’ve done very well to lead for so many months, as we really didn’t have the class of horses to be up there,” said Walker, a five-time champion trainer in New Zealand.
“It was only a matter of time before the big guns caught up with us. It’s a close battle now, but honestly, I’m not holding my breath about my chances.”
