Some racegoers may do a double take when they see the name Super Winner on the card in the $200,000 Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m), but it is indeed the same smart Polytracker who won a raft of races in his distinctive black and white halves for ex-Kranji trainer Theo Kieser not too long ago.
After slipping under the radar for a while, the son of Kaphero, who is now seven, has popped out of nowhere to make his Kranji comeback in Sunday’s feature race.
A prolific sprinter in his heyday, including a four-on-the-trot under ex-jockey Soo Khoon Beng in 2015, Super Winner was, however, plagued by his well-documented degenerative bone issues throughout his career.
Still, Kieser was able to manage his condition very well, with Super Winner racing at the highest level between 2014 and 2016, even earning an invitation to race in the Korea Sprint (1200m) in 2016, albeit without success.
But as his form tapered off last year, owner Soh Seng Lye decided to send the son of Kaphero across the Causeway to Ipoh trainer Nor Azman for a change of scenery.
Super Winner actually won at his Malaysian debut in a Stakes A race on the Ipoh straight over 1100m in March, but was later disqualified after returning positive to testosterone.
Disappointed with the latest turn of events, Soh and son Jeffrey, the owner of the Titanium Racing Stable, decided to bring Super Winner back home. They picked Australian trainer Lee Freedman given Titanium had recently moved a few horses to this yard, and had already picked up a few winners like Tesoro Privado and Nowyousee.
“He’s a smart old horse, who has been with me for around three months. I had to start from light work with him as he’s obviously not raced for a while,” said Freedman.
“He’s had adequate work to run a nice race first-up. He trialled good the other day (October 4 when third to Pennywise).
“He will improve from that run. I would have preferred an 1100m race for him, but there is nothing around for him.”
Super Winner, whose last win came in a dead-heat with Laser Storm in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on August 28, 2016, will be partnered by Olivier Placais. The French jockey rode him once – at his second-last start when last in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) won by Countofmontecristo in September last year.
Freedman also saddles another horse from the same era as Super Winner and who has also been struggling to regain his form of old following some health issues (cancer to his leg) – Affleck.
The former juvenile star’s last win, coincidentally, also came in August 2016, on the 14th one fortnight before Super Winner’s last win, in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m when still prepared by nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon.
As opposed to Super Winner, Affleck has been under the Freedman polish longer, with the results already showing – a closing fifth to Be Bee in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on September 23. Apprentice jockey Troy See rode him then, but Craig Grylls takes over this Sunday.
“He ran a nice race at his last start. He should improve once he steps up to 1400m,” said Freedman.
“The EW Barker Trophy is a race that I have in mind for him.”
The Group 2 EW Barker Trophy is a handicap race over 1400m to be run on November 9 during the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (November 11) weekend.
