Super Ninetyseven’s Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge plans may have hit a snag but the talented chestnut is still on track for the last two Legs.
The Show A Heart four-year-old was on an upward spiral after his flying second to Cash Luck in the Group 3 JBBA Moonbeam Vase (1800m) on April 6, with the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) beckoning nicely in three weeks’ time, leading up to the 4YO series.
But the QEII Cup start was thrown in disarray after he succumbed to a tendon injury trainer Michael Freedman has still not been able to get to the bottom of. As a result, Super Ninetyseven was the notable absentee in the QEII Cup, which was won by Wild Geese, a horse he had always beaten, whether at level weights or in a handicap race.
Putting that setback behind him, Freedman was then in a race against time to get the seven-time winner ready for the first Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) this Sunday, but despite all his efforts, the clock beat him. All’s not lost, though, as Super Ninetyseven is still in the hunt for the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) on June 22 and the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 13.
“I’m not sure if he got cast in his box or what really happened, but he gave his off-front tendon a whack and there was a lot of bruising and swelling,” said Freedman.
“We did a scan and there was luckily nothing broken. Still, he missed the QEII Cup, which was disappointing.
“After a rest of about two to three weeks, I put him back on the treadmill and he’s come along well. He had a gallop last week, but the Stewards’ Cup has come up too early.
“He’s probably one week behind and it would have been slightly too soon to run him against horses who were rock-hard fit. I will run him in another 1400m Open race next week instead
“He’d had some time off and it’s all about getting his fitness levels back first. Hopefully, he will be all right to run in the Patron’s Bowl and then the Derby, which has always been his main goal.”
Freedman will not be without a runner in the Stewards’ Cup, though, as he has entered Holy Warrior in the $300,000 event. The Irish-bred by Holy Roman Emperor scored on debut in a 1200m race, but failed at his next three runs over the mile before running a closing second to Supernova when brought back in trip to 1400m at his last start.
Holy Warrior, who will be ridden by regular partner Manoel Nunes, is pitted against some of Singapore’s leading four-year-olds such as Emperor Max, Slew Of Lode and Johnny Guitar, but Freedman thought it was a dice worth rolling.
“He raced with blinkers on for the first time in a trial last week and went really well,” said Freedman of the Lucky Stable-owned gelding who won that barrier trial on May 20.
“It’s a big step-up in class for him, with horses like Emperor Max, Johnny Guitar and Slew Of Lode in the mix. In saying this, they are also coming back from the SIA Cup meeting (May 18), and Emperor Max is stepping up to 1400m for the first time here.
“Holy Warrior has not done so well over the mile here. He’s more of a 1200m-1400m horse and as this is the only Leg over 1400m and you turn four only once, I thought I might as well give him a chance.
“It’s unlikely he will run in the last two Legs, but you never say never. You’ve got to be in it to have a chance, and we’ll see how he goes on Sunday.”
Freedman has entered 14 horses this weekend, including nine at the Stewards’ Cup meeting and five on Friday, which would be his last chance of breaking his duck in a hitherto winless month of May, and hopefully relaunch a yard which has stalled on 26 winners since April 27 when Eisenheim scored.
A close second behind current leader Alwin Tan for a long time, Freedman has been hit by a series of mishaps one after another of late, starting with the passing of jockey Nathan Berry in April, a dislocated shoulder which eventually required surgery, lack of winners during those times, and to top it all off, Super Ninetyseven’s derailed 4YO campaign.
“This year has been pretty ‘eventful’,” said Freedman in his typical subtle way. “But that’s racing and we have to move on.
“Things should pick up from now on. I have some nice two-year-olds who are coming through very well, and it’ll be exciting to see how they go.”
