After losing by a short head, jockey Derreck David had only one thing in mind as he jumped off Bring Money Home and walked towards trainer Tan Hor Khoon – EW Barker Trophy.
The South African was disappointed he was not able to bring Tan’s galloper, whom he was riding for the first time, home in a Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m on October 30, but thought the five-year-old gelding would be a worthy contender in the $350,000 Group 2 handicap race over 1400m this Friday.
David is a persuasive rider. Tan had not really given the EW Barker Trophy much thought, even if the son of Mr Nancho lost no marks with his cheeky runs in all three Legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, but after discussing with the owner, the Happy Life Stable, decided to have another go at elite level.
With his rating of 77, Bring Money Home gets in at the minimum weight of 50kgs, a luxury weight David also knew he could meet.
In actual fact, he even suggested the even loftier handicap race two days later as a fall-back option, the $1.35 million Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m, but Tan opted for the more conservative approach.
“It’s Derreck who convinced me to run him in the EW Barker Trophy,” said Tan.
“He said he would get a low weight and he can ride light. He also mentioned the Gold Cup as he thinks he is a one-pacer who just keeps galloping.
“I did think about it, but I’m not sure he can stay 2200m. He did not quite stay in the Derby even if he didn’t finish that far behind Well Done.
“He would have qualified for the Gold Cup with his rating, and would probably have got 50kg as well, but I think the 1400m trip is better for him.
“In saying this, the EW Barker Trophy is a very strong field this year and I think he still faces a tough task.
“The horse is fit and well, he’s drawn a nice middle barrier, and I hope he can give us something to cheer at the top of the straight, like he did in the 4YO series.
“Whether he can go all the way, I’m not sure, but that’s why we have to try and at handicap conditions with his low weight, it gives us a bit of a chance.”
David for one has done his homework and would be surprised if Bring Money Home does not finish in the first tier of the 15-horse field (Born To Fly was scratched).
“I told the trainer straight after the last run he should run him in the EW Barker Trophy and I’m glad he agreed,” he said.
“I studied the form, and I think with only 50kgs on his back, he’s got to have a chance.
“I’ve worked him since the last run, and he gives me absolutely no feeling whatsoever, but he’s always been like that. He only wakes up on raceday.
“I did tell HK than he could maybe run in the Gold Cup if we take the blinkers off, but he wasn’t keen. He told me he didn’t stay in the Derby, he stopped in the last 100m and I have to respect his decision.
“The EW Barker Trophy is still a very good Group 2 race and it would be nice to win my first feature race in Singapore.”
A former South African champion apprentice jockey and last year’s Mauritius champion jockey, David is at his first season at Kranji. The 28-year-old has tallied up a decent score of 10 winners in 122 rides, with the Racing Guide Classic (1400m), a sponsored race, aboard Poseidon at his very first ride in March, the most memorable.
