Baertschiger Faalts only the wide gate

Gun sprinter Faaltless taking on the likes of Singapore champion sprinter Zac Spirit, Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair.

KrisFlyer runner-up Emperor Max in Sunday’s $500,000 Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) at his comeback race from a five-month spell was not the real cause for trainer Shane Baertschiger’s furrowed eyebrows since Wednesday.

If anything, Baertschiger feels the Faltaat four-year-old deserves a berth among the who’s who of Kranji’s elite. It is the draw which is bothering him more.

The Australian said things had gone swimmingly well for his resuming sprinting star and noted frontrunner in the lead-up to the third Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, until the dreaded outermost alley, No 9, fell their way at declaration time.

One could sense that one spanner in the works had chucked a dampener in the camp mood, but Baertschiger is not saying “game over” yet.

“Everything was going well until Wednesday when the draw came out,” he said.

“He’s been working well and had not missed a beat since we brought him back, trialled good last week when he ran second to Johnny Guitar. It was always the plan to freshen him up after his last win (November 16) and he had come back in great shape.

“It’s true he’s taking on some very good horses first-up, but he’s flying too and he’s never been beaten first-up. But that wide draw has changed everything.

“We will have to see how the speed works out now. JP (John Powell) knows the horse well (two rides for one win and one second) and it’s in his hands now.”

Should the experienced Australian jockey steer him home or at least to a good finish and he pulls up well, an even bigger carrot is next for the six-time winner (including the Group 3 Garden City Trophy), the $1 million Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) on May 17.

“I’m hoping he runs well on Sunday and then he goes straight to the KrisFlyer,” said Baertschiger, who has never fielded a runner in the glamour event himself, but whose father Don saddled Capablanca thrice (2008, 2009 and 2011) to unplaced finishes.

“But one race at a time. I think he was a good chance first-up, if not for this wide gate.”

Should Faaltless falter, Baertschiger, currently fifth on the ladder, will be looking to bump up his tally of 19 winners with two leading hopes in two other 1200m races, debut winner Von Krumm in the $80,000 Ninetyfive Emperor 2005 Stakes (Kranji Stakes C) and exciting prospect Red Dawn in the $60,000 Super Racer 2004 Stakes (Class 4 Division 2).

“Von Krumm has again drawn wide, but he has trained on well. He will have to use his speed again to get across,” he said.

“Red Dawn was balloted out from a 1200m race last week and I’m glad he got in this week. He has drawn two and the blinkers are back on.

“If they go hard in front, we won’t insist and take a sit as he can also come in from behind. I think he will be hard to beat.”