Trainer John O’Hara is showing guarded optimism about Satellite Man making it a hat-trick of wins in the last race of Friday’s night meeting.
The bold frontrunner got the job done at his last two starts in two identical 1200m turf races in Kranji Stakes D company.
Since the last win on September 23 when he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Morales (Sigrid Carr) by half-a-length, the Per Incanto four-year-old has been kept ticking over.
He came out for a barrier trial on October 13 when he was a fraction slow out of the gates with his winning partner, apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen up, before quickly mustering speed to charge to his favourite spot in the lead.
Satellite Man gradually opened up to a commanding break before being cut back by the fast-finishing Group 3 winner Rafaello under a hard-riding Nooresh Juglall while Wong was a lot softer in the saddle.
Ironically, it is Juglall who will jump on Satellite Man in Friday’s $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m. The Mauritian jockey is regularly booked by the owner, the Satellite Stable on their runners, and has actually partnered Satellite Man three times for a second as the best result.
“The horse has jarred up a bit after his last run, but he trialled well a few weeks ago and had a nice jumpout on Saturday,” said a cautious O’Hara.
“But he is facing a stronger field this time and has drawn wide (11). He also has a bit of weight this time (58kgs). CC claims only one kilo, and we decided to put Juglall back on.
“I think it will be a harder task for him this time. There is not much speed in the race and let’s see where he settles.
“I was hoping for five or six in the gates but he’s drawn 11. That makes it even harder, but the horse is well and let’s hope for the best.”
Juglall is also hoping for a good result on a horse he knows quite well but has yet to break the ice on. He said he has not ridden him since August 7, but saw the progress first-hand - from behind - in that barrier trial.
“I rode Rafaello in that trial and Satellite Man ran very well, too. I just failed to catch him,” said Juglall.
“John told me he’s improved a lot and also had a nice jumpout on Saturday. It’s a Class 4 race he’s tackling this time, which is a bit stronger than the Kranji Stakes D race he won in and he’s carrying the top-weight.
“I’m not too worried by the gate No 11 as there isn’t much speed on our inside. He’s a horse who runs with the pace and I think he should be able to be up there.”
