Augustano might be the highest-rated runner on 77 points in the $250,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on Friday, but trainer Lee Freedman is aware the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge may be as far as he will go.
With the Hard Spun gelding’s four wins recorded between 1100m and 1200m, he is a doubtful for the second and third Legs over 1400m (Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic) and 1600m (Group 1 Singapore Guineas).
The other box the Thai-owned Augustano does not quite tick is the surface box. His four wins all came on Polytrack while the Challenge is a series run entirely on turf.
Freedman also saddles Mr Clint (66 points) in the Sprint, but he is convinced the son of Power has what it takes to tackle all three Legs all going well.
“It’s a hot race but I’m very pleased with both horses. On ratings, Augustano is the highest-rated three-year-old sprinter in Singapore right now and is more of a 1200m horse than Mr Clint,” said the Australian trainer.
“But his runs on turf have been inconclusive. He is not hopeless, but he is not great on it.
“If he doesn’t handle it that well on Friday, then I can always switch him back to the Merlion Trophy instead.
“He won’t get further anyway, so the second and third Legs are too far for him. Mr Clint, on the other hand, will be more effective over 1400m and even the mile.
Augustano will have regular partner Glen Boss staying on board while Mr Clint will have last-start winning rider Craig Grylls back in the saddle.
Besides the Friday duo, Freedman also has two of his runners from last Friday waiting in the wings for the last two Legs.
Impressive winner Mr Dujardin is earmarked for the third Leg, the Singapore Guineas on May 26, while debutant Super Dynasty, seventh first-up in the Novice race over 1200m (won by Lord O’Reilly), is also being thrown in the mix, starting with the second Leg, the Classic on April 22.
The Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) is the Polytrack Leg (2nd) of the Singapore Sprint Series and will be run on April 27.
Meanwhile Freedman brings promising stayer Lim’s Samurai back in the swing of things, first-up no less in Sunday’s feature race, the $200,000 JBBA Rocket Man Sprint (1200m).
The Japanese-bred five-year-old has not raced since a closing second to Poseidon in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m in October. Unfortunately, the four-time winner (1200m to 1600m) who was first-up from arguably his best race to-date, when runner-up to Infantry in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) in July, suffered a setback after that race, ruling himself out of the Raffles Cup and Singapore Gold Cup thereafter.
Freedman said Lim’s Samurai was in a good shape, but the first Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series would serve more as a springboard towards future tests over more ground down the road.
“He did his suspensory after his last race and had a long layoff,” he said.
“He’s in good form but it’s not likely he will win the Rocket Man Sprint but he had to start somewhere. I will apply with the Stewards for Craig Grylls to ride him two-kilo over as the horse is currently weighted at 50kgs.
“The plan for Lim’s Samurai is to find races for him through the March, April and May months and I will then set him for the Gold Cup.”
Brought back from 2200m to 2000m for the first time this year, the Dester Singapore Gold Cup will be run on November 11.
