Going with the law of probability, a trainer who goes into a big race or two with the highest number of runners normally braces himself for a mixed bag of joy and sadness. Patrick Shaw is one lucky trainer who has bucked the trend.
The South African conditioner was the man with the most beaming smile at the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint Post Position Draw ceremony after his SIA Cup quartet of runners all drew according to his wishes – smack in the middle.
Only KrisFlyer sprinter Magneto drew out wide in eight from nine, but even then, Shaw was grinning and bearing it. To him, the Argentinian-bred does not have to hotfoot it at all costs.
The rest of the reactions were as usual spanning the whole spectrum of emotions. Even pulling out the coveted No 1 was not getting the expected warm reception in some camps. Pascal Bary’s Smoking Sun drew an alley, but the grooms on hand said it was a little wasted on them as he gets back and charges home late.
On the other hand, local trainer Stephen Gray had every reason to be more delighted with Emperor Max’s barrier No 1 in the Sprint, which tends to be more partial towards the lower draws.
Singapore contenders Wild Geese and El Padrino were the two “horror gate” recipients in the SIA Cup (11) and KrisFlyer (nine) respectively. Trainer Steven Burridge (Wild Geese) was obviously not going “wild” with his luck of the draw, or lack thereof, while trainer Alwin Tan just shrugged it off as inconsequential given his charge’s get-back racing pattern.
In any case, after the dust has settled, all will go home and review their strategies, knowing full well that the results will hinge first and foremost on the 20 horses’ intrinsic ability and luck in the running.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP
SMOKING SUN (FRA) – Barrier No 1
“It’s not very important as he’s not a quick beginner. Marble one is not all that much of a major asset for a horse like him,” said French trainer Pascal Bary’s track rider Patrick Lemagny, who looked a little nonplussed by “la corde” (number one in French) draw.
“He will be somewhere closer to the pace from that draw. What matters more is he is in good shape and we can only hope he runs to his best form on Sunday.”
FREE PORT LUX (FRA) – Barrier No 2
“I’m happy with the draw. We can follow the leader,” said French trainer Freddy Head.
“All he needs is pace and then we want them to come back to us.”
MILITARY ATTACK (HK) – Barrier No 3
“The boss will be happy. It is a great draw for Military Attack,” said Hong Kong champion trainer Caspar Fownes’ senior track rider Paul Lo.
“My job looks done now.”
JOHNNY GUITAR, SLEW OF LODE, COOPTADO & QUECHUA (SG) – Barrier No 4, 5, 6 & 7
“That’s very good. They’ve all drawn very well in the Cup,” said a relieved Patrick Shaw who fields the most runners in the SIA Cup with four runners, all of whom are “bundled up” next to each other in the middle.
“It’s a lovely draw for both Johnny Guitar and Slew Of Lode. (Joao) Moreira will have Johnny Guitar in a good spot and he can just get a good run right through.
“Slew Of Lode will jump out and we will ride him cold as we don’t know if he will stay. Five is just nice for him.
“Cooptado is a horse who likes to be on the pace from what I’ve seen in his races. He should be able to get a lovely run from six. That’s fine.
“Seven is not too bad for Quechua as there are only 11 runners. Dan Excel has drawn 10 and he will just follow him through.”
Concurring with the South African mentor, the jockeys had every reason to be upbeat as well.
“Slew Of Lode needed a good gate and he got it. Hopefully he stays,” said his pilot, Nooresh Juglall.
“I was hoping for three or four and we got six, which is right in the middle,” said Barend Vorster, Cooptado’s jockey.
“He will be comfortable there and the good thing is you can then make up your mind early in such a spot.”
“I’m happy with seven. At least it’s better than 10. We will follow Dan Excel and get a good truck in behind,” said Corey Brown, Quechua’s partner.
MEINER FROST (JPN) – Barrier No 8
“Happy with this. Before the draw, we hoped for a middle gate and eight is good,” said Japanese trainer Noboru Takagi.
“He’s the sort who likes to sit handy or midfield. He will be okay.”
STEPITUP (SG) – Barrier No 9
“Draw is not the best, but if we can come across and tuck in behind, follow Dan Excel, who has drawn 10, and get some cover, we will be all right,” said Laurie Laxon’s assistant-trainer Shane Ellis.
“It’s all in (Manoel) Nunes’ hands now. He is the one standing in the stirrups.
“This will be his (Stepitup’s) biggest test. He has improved a couple of lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. He will be right there.”
DAN EXCEL (HK) – Barrier No 10
“He’s got good gate speed. So the barrier position is not a concern for us,” said Hong Kong trainer John Moore.
“At his last race in the Champions Mile in Hong Kong, he led the field at the start and held it for some distance.
“Not the best of draws but we are not worried.”
WILD GEESE (SG) – Barrier No 11
“It’s an awkward draw. For tactics, we’ll see how he jumps as he has not been jumping all that well,” said trainer Steven Burridge.
“It’ll be up to the jockey (Craig Newitt).”
KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT
EMPEROR MAX (SG) – Barrier No 1
“It’s great, one is better than nine for sure. He can do what he likes from one,” said trainer Stephen Gray.
“There will be a lot of speed and we didn’t want to be out and he will get the perfect run now.”
Jockey Corey Brown was also all smiles after the Kiwi trainer pulled out the No 1 card.
“I’m rapt. It makes our life easier when we draw one,” said the Australian jockey.
“It takes the thinking out, or what I mean is there is one worry less. You almost land in that spot without using him too much and that is a positive.
“He had a great run first-up (in Lion City Cup) and I thought he ran 1 ½ lengths better than what he showed in his trials.
“We know where he is at now as he has come out of that first run even better. He’s in great order.”
LUCKY NINE (HK) – Barrier No 2
“It’s a good draw. We are all very happy with it,” said trainer Caspar Fownes’ track rider Danny Suen.
Senior track rider Paul Lo was seen taking a photo of Lucky Nine’s poster being placed in the Barrier 2 position and sending it to Fownes, who left Kranji on Wednesday morning.
“The draw was the same as last year. It was what we were looking for,” added Lo.
AEROVELOCITY (HK) – Barrier No 3
“It’s a great draw. He doesn’t have to do too much work. He just has to sit behind the leaders and keep the pace,” said Hong Kong trainer Paul O’Sullivan
“It’s not an enviable job drawing. I once drew a 19 for a Melbourne Cup draw and I’m glad I finally got a good number after so many rounds of trying.”
KIWI KARMA (SG) – Barrier No 4
“I was hoping for two or three and I got four, which is just one outside. It’s good,” said trainer Michael Clements.
“It’s better than being out there. She should be able to get up on the pace.”
ZAC SPIRIT (SG) – Barrier No 5
“It’s perfect for the horse. It’s really good,” said trainer Cliff Brown.
“I’m very happy with that.”
RICH TAPESTRY (HK) – Barrier No 6
Track rider Sit Shun-keung took a photo of the completed post position draw to send to trainer Michael Chang, who was here on Monday to oversee Rich Tapestry’s trackwork but left for Hong Kong on Tuesday evening.
“It was a good draw for Rich Tapestry. An inside draw would not suit his running style,” said Sit.
"Starting from the middle will be best for him.”
HOTOTO (BAH) – Barrier No 7
“It’s not a big field, it’s okay. He should have enough speed to go forward and come across,” said Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass.
“He is a speed horse and the only way for him is forward.”
MAGNETO (SG) – Barrier No 8
“It’s not too bad actually. We can wait for the horses to come across and take a sit as well,” said trainer Patrick Shaw.
Jockey Nooresh Juglall looked a bit more despondent but still tried to find a positive spin.
“We’re quite unlucky with the draw. It looks like I will have to take a sit and hopefully, it will be in a good spot with some cover,” said the Mauritian rider.
EL PADRINO (SG) – Barrier No 9
“The gate is a little out, but my horse comes from behind, anyway,” said trainer Alwin Tan.
“That’s his running style. So the barrier won’t really matter much.
“Let’s hope he stays with the pace and is able to catch up with the rest along the straight.”
