Derreck David is not so sure last-start beaten favourite Makanani can bounce back to form this Sunday, but advises not to write her off given her postage-stamp weight.
The South African jockey had a very good hunch about the Japanese-bred three-year-old filly at her last run in the Class 3 race over 1800m on August 4. Punters were on the same page as they had backed the two-time winner down to $14 favouritism, but David was the first to recognise that her wilting fifth to Certainly left a lot to be desired.
Then again, David was also prepared to forgive the Hideyuki Takaoka-trained daughter of Black Tide given she was resuming from a two-month let-up.
Should she again run below expectations in Sunday’s $100,000 Open Benchmark 97 race over 2000m, then plans afoot for more ambitious races might hang in the balance.
“She was disappointing at her last start. I was very confident she would run well but maybe she needed the run after a long break (two months),” said David.
“Still, I expected her to put in a much better effort. She will have only 50kgs on her back this time (carried 55kgs last time out).
“We’re trying to place her in the right races so she gets into the feature races later in the year, for example the El Dorado Classic and the Singapore Gold Cup.”
The two staying features will be run for the last time over 2200m this year before they are shortened to 2000m based on the new initiatives issued on Wednesday by the Singapore Turf Club to revitalise the racing industry.
David is banking on Sunday’s run to get a good gauge on the Big Valley Stable-owned filly’s prospects over such long trips.
“She’s running against a much tougher field, but she’s doing well at home,” he said.
“If she stays, then we will find similar races for her to make the cut for the El Dorado and the Gold Cup.”
While David does not usually get the picks of the crop in terms of rides at Kranji, his eighth spot on the log and a record of 28 wins from 255 rides are a testament to his riding ability and hard work.
From nine rides this weekend, the former 2015 Mauritius champion jockey gives Makanani an each-way chance but has singled out Mystic Master on Friday as his best chance.
The 2016 Group 3 Juvenile Championship (1200m) winner has not quite gone up an upward spiral after that career highlight, but neither has he been disgraced in Class 3 company, like at his last run when he closed in late for third to Mighty Conqueror in a speed dash over 1000m.
The Alwin Tan-trained Snippetson four-year-old entire is dropping in grade in Friday’s Open Benchmark 67 race over 1000m.
“Alwin rang me up for the ride. It’s the first time I’m riding him,” said David. “The horse is coming to form and I think he is one of my better chances this weekend.
“I’ve having a great season even if I don’t usually get the best of rides. I have won on quite a few of those but if they all add up, I don’t mind.”
