Trainer Kuah Cheng Tee did not look too concerned after Forever Young ran a long last in his barrier trial on Tuesday morning.
The dual Group winner does not usually go out to break any records at such hit-outs, but is a different proposition on raceday. Though the speedy customer can win from behind as he showed at his first two wins, he landed the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) and the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) by going all the way.
Forever Young did jump on terms with the other seven horses in Tuesday’s trial, but new partner, two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen soon dropped him to the rear before they tailed right off, about 22 lengths off the winner Preditor.
Barrier trials don’t always tell the full story, but the US-bred four-year-old has also been blowing hot and cold since his Chairman’s Trophy win last August.
Two starts back, the Hong Kong-owned galloper nearly annexed a third feature race feather to his cap in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) after trying to pinch the race from the front for Craig Grylls, but was gunned down late by Clarton Super.
However, Forever Young again went backwards at his next start when beating one home in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) on March 18. He was ridden by Ryan Curatolo.
Even if his fitness level would have raised some queries at Tuesday’s trial, Kuah said there was nothing wrong with his prized stable banner and first Group 1 winner at only his second year of training.
“I gave him an easy time – as I always do with him in his trials – this morning,” said Kuah.
“What I was more interested in was to see him jumping well. He jumped awkwardly in the Committee’s Prize and you can’t afford to do that in a Group race.
“He had to be hunted up to go forward, and I knew he would be in trouble in the straight.
“But today, he jumped to the front before CC Wong dropped him back. He told me later the horse was not 100% fit and he then just looked after him.”
Kuah said he expected the four-time winner to feel a little ring-rusty after his layoff, but that he won’t be allowed to loaf around next week.
“It’s normal he was not really fit today as he had a small break after his last race. I will give him a harder trial next week,” he said.
“He’s running in the Chairman’s Trophy on April 27 and that should top him off nicely. He won that race in August last year, but it’s been brought forward this year.
“The owner was actually thinking of bringing in a jockey from Hong Kong but the Hong Kong Jockey Club does not allow its jockeys to ride overseas unless it’s a Group 1 race.
“We’re happy to have CC on Forever Young in the Chairman’s Trophy. CC is a good jockey and has proven many times he can measure up to his seniors in big races.”
The Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy has not only been rescheduled to an earlier date but it has also seen its distance dropped to 1600m and its purse upped by $200,000 to $500,000.
