The international gallopers at this year’s Singapore Airlines International Cup week reached a crucial stage of their preparations as they came under the spotlight for their first official workout on Monday morning.
While some of them like Hunter’s Light, Red Cadeaux, Kavanagh, Meandre and Dux Scholar have already been spotted around the tracks since arriving last week, or even earlier, it was a first feel of the track for Pastorius and Lucky Nine, who only arrived on Saturday night and Sunday morning respectively.
Other Sunday arrivals like Military Attack and Dan Excel and the two Australians, Bel Sprinter and Mawingo (now representing Singapore) were only hand-walked while the United Kingdom pair of Balmont Mast and Mull Of Killough, who had only checked in a few hours earlier, stayed in their boxes to recuperate from their long-haul flight.
As for the 10 local contenders, most of them came out for some maintenance work pending a faster piece of work later on in the week.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP
Dan Excel & Military Attack (HK) – John Moore
Were both walked in the quarantine compound following their arrival from Hong Kong on Sunday morning.
“There is not much to tell,” said trainer John Moore’s son George who is overseeing the preparation until his father’s arrival.
“They have settled in well, eaten up and really there’s not much more to say. The second night could be different, but so far so good.”
Flax (SG) – David Hill
Was taken for some light work on the uphill track by Samantha Hill.
The third-placed 2012 SIA Cup runner went for a hack on the uphill track under trainer David Hill’s daughter Samantha’s guidance.
“He’s fine,” said Hill. “Sam just took him on the uphill track and did her own things with him.
“I couldn’t be happier with him. I hope it rains on Sunday as he likes it wet.”
Hunter’s Light (UAE) – Saeed bin Suroor
Cantered over 1 ¼ mile (2000m) on the Polytrack.
“Very happy with him. He’s all ready for tomorrow’s gallop on grass,” said travelling foreman Richard Corona. “He missed the last gallop last week because it rained. The track is perfect now - good to soft.”
Dux Scholar is put through his paces on the Polytrack on Monday morning.
Lizarre (SG) – Patrick Shaw
Cantered on Polytrack with race-jockey Barend Vorster in the saddle.
“He just had a canter on the Polytrack this morning,” said trainer Patrick Shaw. “He’ll do a bit of fast work tomorrow and then possibly again on Friday.
“He’s pulled up OK from his trial last week and seems to have come on, but this year’s race is very tough.”
Mawingo (SG) – Michael Freedman
Walked in the quarantine compound following his arrival from Australia on Sunday night.
Meandre (SIA Cup) & Dux Scholar (KrisFlyer) (UAE) – Doug Watson
Both cantered on Polytrack over 1 ¼ miles (2000m) with Dux Scholar leading Meandre by 100m.
“It’s their third day of work and I must say they have both settled in very well. I’m pretty happy with their work so far,” said trainer Doug Watson.
“Meandre lost 3kg while Dux Scholar lost 4kg, but they both haven’t left an oat. Meandre would eat stones.
“It’s my first time travelling horses overseas and I’ve spoken a fair bit with Mike de Kock before coming here. We wanted to come out here early to get used to the heat here, which is pretty much like in Dubai, except it’s been unseasonably cool in Dubai this year.
“I was pretty happy with their work this morning. They seem to like the Polytrack and are both pretty fit, coming out of their work not blowing too hard.
Pastorius (GER) – Mario Hofer
With track rider Cay Bonhoff up, Pastorius trotted on Polytrack over one lap and did a slow canter over the next lap.“As he only arrived here on Saturday night, he didn’t do too much this morning,” said track rider Cay Bonhoff.
“I’m very impressed with the way he travelled considering it was his first time he’s come out so far.
“He’s eating good and his temperature is good. He lost only 3kg, which is not much, considering he lost as much as 10kg when he last raced in Longchamp.
“His movement was quite good this morning, very steady. I thought of taking him to the uphill track this morning, but as we don’t have this in Germany, I thought it would be better not to.
“Back home, he works on sand over 1700m and as sand is quite deep, we may step him up over further here. We won’t gallop him until Thursday or Friday.”
Ready To Strike (SG) – Laurie Laxon
Cantered up and down the heath track - Track 4.
“He had an easy morning as he’s already had a good gallop on Track 2 on Saturday,” said Laxon’s assistant-trainer Shane Ellis.
“He’s eating well and everything is coming along well with him. We’ll probably give him another gallop on Wednesday.”
Red Cadeaux (UK) – Ed DunlopTrotted over the first lap with track rider Stephen Nicholson up and cantered over a mile on the Polytrack.
“He’s happy as Larry and he’s fit as a flea,” said assistant-trainer Robin Trevor-Jones, who is not at his first Singapore visit, having already been here in 2000 for the inaugural SIA Cup with Monsajem, also prepared by Ed Dunlop.
“We’ll have to step up on his work, though. He’ll work on grass on Thursday.
“His weight is also good. 491kg in the morning and 488kg in the evening, and he won the Hong Kong Vase when he was at 494kg.
“He’s very fit as he just came back from Japan where he ran two miles. They went pretty quick in that race – 11 seconds a furlong.
“A mile and a quarter is always a worry for him, but he’s surprised us every time, like in the Dubai World Cup. Animal Kingdom took off early but he made ground on him.
“A lot will depend on the draw as well. I’ve done my homework and over 1 ¼ miles (2000m), I think anything between 3 and 7 would be good.
“If Pastorius brings his A game to Singapore, he’ll be hard to beat, but if he doesn’t, our horse will beat him.”
German galloper Pastorius (Cay Bonhoff) does some light work on the Polytrack on Monday morning.
KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT
Bel Sprinter (AUS) – Jason WarrenHand-walked in the quarantine compound following his arrival in Singapore on Sunday night.
Goal Keeper (SG) – Theo Kieser
Quiet morning.
“He just had a quiet morning this morning and we’ll wait until Wednesday and give him a gallop then,” said trainer Theo Kieser.
“He seems like he’s coming back into his right form and he did trial quite well last Tuesday.
“His form went off and he didn’t look right in the coat there for a while. We couldn’t find anything wrong with him for a while then we had him scoped and found he had ulcers.
“Once he got over those, he started looking better in the coat and his form also picked up.
“I think we’ve got him back somewhere near his best form but it is a very tough race.”
Kavanagh (SAF) – Mike de Kock
Pacework. Trotted over one lap and cantered over one lap of the Polytrack with track rider Mxolisi Maqelana in the saddle, covering the last 600m in 48 seconds.
“He’s settled in very well, which I thought he would as he’s a straightforward type of horse,” said assistant-trainer Trevor Brown.
“He’s done most of his work back home and it’s just a matter of keeping him ticking over here.
“He’ll work on turf tomorrow and I will also send him to the parade ring for some schooling.
“He was a pretty good sprinter in South Africa, though not quite in the same league as Shea Shea. I thought he was very unlucky in the Golden Shaheen when Reynaldothewizard, the winner, rolled out and he got checked and lost about a length, but still managed to run 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner. “
Red Cadeaux (Stephen Nicholson) stretches out nicely on the Polytrack.
Lucky Nine (HK) – Caspar Fownes
Taken to the trotting ring – Track 5 – for 15 minutes of trotting with track rider Phillip Chung in the saddle.
“It is my first time away,” said Phillip Chung. “The horse is very experienced and has settled in very well.
“He had a walk for ½ an hour yesterday afternoon and had a walk and a 15 minute trot this morning.
“He has eaten up and drank overnight so we are happy with him so far.”
Mr Big & Super Easy (SG) – Michael Freedman
Both cantered on the uphill track.
“They both had a canter up the hill track, which most of my team does on a Monday morning,” said trainer Michael Freedman.
“They’ll have another canter on the main Polytrack tomorrow and then have their last gallop on Wednesday morning.
“They seem in good order. So we’ll just keep them ticking over.”
