Trainer Cliff Brown may not have a runner in the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile on Sunday, but he sure won't have a dull day with a few smart ones going around in the high-quality undercard.
The Australian handler will saddle a dozen horses across eight of the remaining 10 races, with Singapore Gold Cup hopeful Wall Street Boy, promising mare Divided House and up-and-coming colt (not for long) Groenewegen high up there among some of the best individuals from his 55-strong team.
A former pre-Derby leading fancy last year before tendon issues beset him, Wall Street Boy is running (along with stablemate, Jumbo Jet Trophy winner Absolutely) in the easier alternative to the Kranji Mile, the $100,000 Panasonic Engineering Stakes, an Open Benchmark 83 race over 1600m, Divided House goes second-up from a three-month break in the $80,000 Panasonic Solutions Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1200m while Groenewegen goes around in the $60,000 Panasonic Conquest Stakes, a Class 4 race over 1400m.
Currently ninth on the trainer's log on 40 winners, Brown said he was reasonably confident of a forward run from his leading trio, though they will not be without some factors against them in their respective assignments.
For instance, Brown was a little circumspect about barrier one for three-time winner Divided House, a four-year-old daughter of popular New Zealand sire I Am Invincible.
“We’ll have to be careful as she can step out slow and as she’s drawn one, she can get cluttered up,” said Brown who also saddles Poseidon in that race.
“But she’s in really good form and Corey (Brown) knows her backwards. She lost a front shoe at the barriers at her first run from a break and it was still a good effort to run second (to Red Dawn) as she probably needed the run, too.
“It’ll be a hard race but I think she will run very well.”
The same guarded optimism was apparent for the remaining two.
“Wall Street Boy trialled okay last week, but he should be better suited over the mile,” said Brown.
“As you know he did his tendon and was 12 months off. I was very happy with his first-up run over 1400m, he ran on late.
“We’re always monitoring and scanning his tendon, and so far so good. If he pulls up good after Sunday, then he is going to the Raffles Cup next, and then hopefully the Gold Cup which remains his main objective.”
To be run on October 25, the $500,000 Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) is the second Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series which kicks off with the Kranji Mile. The third Leg, the $1.35 million Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) will be run on November 15.
Wall Street Boy, a flashy chestnut by Encosta De Lago will be ridden by new arrival, Australian jockey Timothy Bell while Michael Rodd will again partner Groenewegen, who will be lightened up of an extra load after the race.
“Win or lose, we’re gelding him. He’s a colt and has become increasingly difficult to train,” he said.
“He’s a very nice horse, but I think he’ll be even better as a gelding. Just at his trial last week, he went good but just half switches off in the home straight.
“He was okay at his last race, though (third to Lucky Giant), he was just a bit new. He’s done nothing wrong and I expect a good run from him.”
The Commands three-year-old boasts one win from three starts, scoring in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m in August.
