Trainer Michael Freedman will saddle two leading contenders as he aims to win his third EW Barker Trophy in four years this Sunday.
The Australian handler has Mr Big and Holy Empire lined up for the $350,000 Group 2 handicap race (1400m) and was pleased with their preparation ahead of the feature race.
“They’ve worked well and had a good gallop. I’m very happy with them,” said Freedman, who won this race with Any Humour and Super Easy in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Top-rated Mr Big will carry the heaviest load, 58kg, while the other eight runners will race at the minimum 50kg, a scenario that would raise some concerns, but Freedman remains fairly upbeat.
“It’s a bit of a question mark to give away that much weight to some of these younger horses but I have a soft spot for him as he’s been such a good horse to me, and he’s a genuine runner,” he said. “It’s a nice distance for him and as long as he’s in it he can pull off a win.”
The five-year-old gelding won the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) on September 1 in his first attempt at that distance. A month later, he was still leading at the 200m but faded to finish fourth in the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile, 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner Cash Luck.
“Fourth in a Group 1 race is pretty good. That distance was probably a bit too much for him but he was right there until the last 100m,” said Freedman. “The seven furlongs will definitely suit him better.”
The Australian-bred gelding will have jockey Manoel Nunes in the irons for the first time after regular partner Corey Brown opted to ride the Laurie Laxon-trained Daniel.
“Manoel’s been riding well. I gave him a call and he was happy to ride Mr Big,” said Freedman of the first-season Brazilian jockey who is only two wins shy of the century (100 wins).
There will be no riding change however for Holy Empire, who will be partnered by British jockey Alan Munro for the sixth straight time. The pair have recorded four wins and a second in five starts together.
“He’s a horse that’s in form for sure,” said Freedman. “He doesn’t need to be right at the front to win. He has sat back off the pace at times.”
His four-year-old entire is not the only one in good nick. Munro has also won the last three feature races at the Singapore Turf Club, beginning with the Saas Fee Stakes (Holy Empire) on October 20, the El Dorado Classic (Musketeer) and Raffles Cup (Super Ninetyseven) a week later, not to mention he also booted home Rapido Star in the sponsored-race the Luzerne Cup last Friday.
“Alan will ride at 51.5kg. That’s his best weight,” said Freedman. “I’m sure it’ll be a good race for him.”
