A five-week break seems to have done smart sprinter Super Fortune the world of good.
Trainer Alwin Tan, in consultation with the jockey, Olivier Placais, gave the Mossman four-year-old a short let-up after he ran fifth in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m).
He was slow to begin that day – something he does not normally do – and though he did run on late, it was clearly insufficient to put a major dent in the margin of runaway winner Lim’s Cruiser.
But connections were overall happy with the charmed run from a horse who won a midweek race at Kembla Grange (1400m) in Australia (when then known as Man To Love), but went on to chalk up five wins (all over 1200m on turf) at Kranji, reaching the elite level in only 10 starts.
Stepping out for his first barrier trial since the Lion City Cup defeat on Tuesday, the former New South Wales-trained galloper looked to be jumping out of his skin upon pulling up from his little galloping exhibition in barrier trial No 4.
Jumping smartly, Super Fortune rolled to the front temporarily before Eye Guy (Ryan Curatolo) came snatching the lead after only 200m. Eye Guy kept up a steady tempo and looked like he had the trial in his keeping, but Placais had so much lapful under him that he had to switch him out for his run, which he converted into a 4 ¼-length rout in the end.
“Very happy with that trial,” said Placais of the horse he makes no secret is his favourite horse at Kranji.
“He was cruising behind Ryan’s (Curatolo) horse (Eye Guy). I thought I’d just take a sit but when Ryan’s horse wouldn’t kick away, I couldn’t hold him back.
“He swept past easily, but again, he does what he’s always been doing. He stopped and was gawking around.
“I had to keep clicking him up and he did a good job in the end.”
Placais said he was not too disappointed with the Lion City Cup run, though he was of course expecting a better result.
“He was top fit going into the race but unfortunately things didn’t go his way,” said the French jockey who has partnered Super Fortune from Day 1.
“He was too far behind and he also took a check (from Mister Yeoh) at the 300m. Anyway, the winner was too good, but he could have finished closer.
“The break has really helped him. He is fresh and raring to go for his comeback race next week.”
Super Fortune is slated to race again in the Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on turf next Friday night on July 6.
Placais was in hot barrier trial form on Tuesday as he also took out the previous heat with trainer Hideyuki Takaoka’s two-year-old Jupiter Dragon.
Donning blinkers for the first time, the son of Congrats led all the way though he did look like he had come to the end of his run in the last 100m.
Jupiter Dragon has already had two runs in the two-year-old challenge, the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, but had not been able to replicate the success of the other Congrats trained by Takaoka and raced by the same owner Kaz Hosaka, Jupiter Gold.
Jupiter Gold, who is having a second lease of life, after he just ran a cracking third in the Group 1 Charity Bowl (1600m) last Sunday, won two Legs of the series as a juvenile, but Jupiter Dragon could only muster a fourth as his best showing (in the first Leg, the Kranji Nursery Stakes over 1000m). He ran eighth in the third Leg, the IRT Juvenile Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.
The opinions at this stage seem to be half-hearted about an eventual participation in the grand final, the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) on July 13, notwithstanding his victorious barrier trial with the shades on.
“I wanted him to wear blinkers to sharpen him up and he went okay. I’m still not sure if he will race in the last Leg,” said Takaoka after the barrier trial.
“I will make a decision soon.”
Placais, who has struck a formidable association with Takaoka of late, with already 10 wins this season, the latest coming with Star Jack on Sunday, said it was the plan to be a little more positive with Jupiter Dragon in the trial.
“He trialled well, but I think he’s more of a three-year-old. He needs more time,” said Placais.
