Trainer Shane Baertschiger is hoping his former top juvenile Be Bee can turn the tables on his last-start nemesis Lim’s Racer on Friday.
By coincidence, the two rivals are the last two Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) winners.
The 2017 version victor looked to have the measure of his 2016 counterpart at the 200m at their last clash in the Air Canada Cup Class 3 race over 1200m on February 9, but Steven Burridge’s mare Lim's Racer, who had only 50kgs on her back (versus Be Bee’s 55.5kgs) courtesy of apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong’s four-kilo allowance, never stopped, holding a half-length advantage on Be Bee (John Powell) at the wire.
Be Bee will this time meet Lim’s Racer 4.5 kilos better off in Friday’s $80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m. With Powell jumping aboard again, Be Bee shoulders 56kgs while Lim’s Racer’s 57kgs sees two kilos shaved off with the booking of in-form apprentice jockey Noh Senari.
Baertschiger is rather confident the weight turnaround would swing in the favour of Auric Stable’s NZ$250,000 purchase this time around. Be Bee is a son of Showcasing out of the Burst (Golden Slipper winner) mare My Other Woman.
“Be Bee has done well since his last run. He is meeting Burridge’s filly better at the weights,” said the Australian handler.
“He also ran better with the blinkers on last time and he will wear them again on Friday. He’s been working well, is in good form and fingers crossed, he goes all right.”
The Class 3 race is Be Bee’s last prep race before he enters the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge proper which kicks off with the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on March 30.
“He will go straight to the 3YO Sprint after Friday’s race. No barrier trial, just keep him ticking over till then as it’s only three weeks away,” said Baertschiger who will have two other weapons of choice in the series.
“I’ve also got Stunning Cat and Chocante as three-year-old runners this year. They will all run in the first Leg and I think they should all get 1400m, and after that, we will see for the Guineas.”
The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge’s second Leg is the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 22 before wrapping up with the third and final Leg, the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on May 26.
“Obviously, Be Bee is the proven class horse as he’s the highest-rated of the three. He is also well-bred,” said Baertschiger.
“But the other two are also going well. Stunning Cat won his first two and lost no marks last Friday when third to Yabadabadoo.
“Chocante won his second race on Sunday. It wasn’t a race to suit him as he was too keen.
“He needs a faster tempo. That’s why he had to fight hard to get the win.”
Be Bee is on 72 points while Stunning Cat (x Smart Missile) is on 68 points and Chocante (x Fastnet Rock) is on 65 points.
