Leading jockey Vlad Duric will be Mr Spielberg’s new rider in the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) on October 30.
Champion trainer Laurie Laxon confirmed the booking after the Australian jockey became available following trainer Stephen Gray’s decision to not step Duric’s Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile ride Fastnet Dragon (see other report) up to the Raffles Cup following his last place in the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series on October 9.
In that same race, Mr Spielberg, who was ridden by Alan Munro for the first time, ran a luckless fifth to Debt Collector.
Laxon said he couldn’t be more delighted with Mr Spielberg’s eye-catching run considering he was always hemmed in on the rails and never got an opportunity to fully stretch out until the last 200m, when he charged home with probably the same closing sectionals as the winner and his runner-up Well Done.
“He had no luck in the Kranji Mile. He couldn’t get out and when he did, he ran on very well,” said Laxon.
“The mile is too short for him, anyway. He’s a stayer and he’ll be much better suited over the 1800m of the Raffles Cup and then it’s on to the Singapore Gold Cup.”
The Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m is the last Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series after the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup and will be staged on November 20.
Laxon, who boast two Gold Cups to his name with Raul (2004) and Recast (2007), said Duric, who has never ridden Mr Spielberg, will gallop the Pentire five-year-old on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the nine-time Singapore champion trainer, who bagged the last two races of Sunday’s Saas Fee Stakes meeting with Glorious Prospect and Lim's Samurai to hit the 40-win mark, but still 32 winners off current leader Alwin Tan, will be looking to improve his score with a team of 13 entries this weekend.
“I’ve got quite a few good chances this weekend. I really like Mr Lewis in the Initiation race over 1400m,” said the Kiwi handler.
“He was unlucky at his last start. He got held up in the straight and by the time he came out, it was too late.”
Favourite D’Great Bullet (Danny Beasley) was out of reach, clinging on by a short head from Mr Lewis who finished like a speeding bullet once he found daylight.
“It’s 1400m over the Short Course again, but let’s hope Michael Rodd will be able to get him in the clear this time,” said Laxon.
Mr Phua Chian Kin of the Oscar Racing Stable bred Mr Lewis after he purchased Red Ransom mare Ruby Rouge and sent her to Darci Brahma. Mr Lewis showed early potential when he ran third in a barrier trial at Te Rapa in New Zealand before being sent to Singapore.
He won one barrier trial at Kranji before running a creditable debut third to Noble Liaison in an Initiation race over 1200m on September 18 and following up with that unlucky second to D’Great Bullet.
