Just going on the perfect ring to his name, Hong Kong rising star Singapore Sling would have been a great advertisement for the return of International racing at Kranji this Saturday, but trainer Tony Millard and connections “held their horses”.
A former Group 2 Dingaans winner in South Africa, the South African-bred four-year-old was in the mix on Singapore’s hit-list after he ran a brilliant second in the Group 1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March.
A regular horse traveller to Korea, Dubai and England, winning with Super Jockey in the Korea Sprint in 2016 and coming close with Sweet Sanette at Royal Ascot in 2011, Millard had, however, never ventured into this neck of the Asian woods.
The 56-year-old horseman certainly would not mind adding Singapore to his resume, but at the time the Singapore Turf Club launched the $1.5 million Invitational Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m), he was just loath to ship the son of Philanthropist on a trip to any country, period.
Even the owners, who happen to be the Singapore-owned Lucky Stable of Far East supremo Mr Robert Ng, and who could have latched on a nice publicity coup with a horse whose name was inspired by the Lion City (and no doubt its famous cocktail), were not keen to travel – yet.
“Singapore Sling is a nice horse, but he had a hard season. He ran second when beaten by a better horse (Ping Hai Star) in the Derby, and won that 4YO race at only his fourth start,” said Millard who landed in Singapore on Thursday.
“He was never going to come here. I spoke to Robert and he agreed we should give him an early break.
“If the Singapore International races are back next year, then, we may bring him when he will be at full strength – if he gets invited.”
Millard had also ruled out his other good horse, another South African-bred, Nassa (x Dynasty) who beat Time Warp in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1800m) in record-breaking time last November.
That did not mean the Cape Town native could not RSVP to the Singapore Turf Club’s invitation with another option – Horse Of Fortune.
“I’ve never raced a horse in Singapore. It’s actually my first time visiting the country,” said the son of legendary South African trainer Terrance Millard and holder of a stellar resume that runs the gamut of the best Group races in South Africa before he moved to Hong Kong in 2000.
“I’ve of course heard of the previous International races (Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint). They were lovely races and I had no problem coming here at all, but you need to have the right horse at the right time for everything to gel in.
“The horses in Hong Kong come to the end of their season around that time. They are tired and I normally give them a break then.
“But I’ve kept Horse Of Fortune fresh for this race. He goes better fresh and came on well at this time last year.
“I’ve travelled horses before, but each time you tweak a little bit more and you learn a little bit more. There are no set rules, you keep an open mind and adjust all the time, and it’s been the same with Horse Of Fortune.
“He was a really good horse in South Africa when he was trained by Glen Puller. He is seven now, but he is a good horse on his day.”
Millard would know a thing or two about a good horse having put the bridle on 39 Group 1 winners in South Africa, including Durban July winner 1993 Dancing Duel and three Horses of the Year Empress Club, Jet Master and Surfing Home.
The former showjumping rider was also crowned South African champion trainer twice, first in 1992 and then in 1994, sharing the title with none other than Patrick Shaw, former Singapore champion trainer (2011) who retired in 2016.
When Millard left his Johannesburg base to move to Hong Kong in 1999, he added an instant new feather to his already bulging cap with a Hong Kong Derby win at his very first season – the aptly-named Keen Winner.
Millard, whose wife Beverly rides work for him, both at home and at their travels to Dubai, Ascot, Korea and now Singapore, said that after that flying start, he was not spared a few speed bumps, but looking back on his total tally of 579 wins in the former British colony, he has done all right.
Granted, he did not boast the wider range of weaponry the bigger guns like trainers John Moore, John Size, Caspar Fownes or Tony Cruz can cherry-pick from, but every now and then, along comes a special horse like Ambitious Dragon – yes, Michael Clements’ Chopin’s Fantaisie champion big brother.
By far his best horse in Hong Kong, the two-time Horse of the Year thrusted Millard into the Group 1 spotlight seven times, including the 2012 Hong Kong Mile, the 2011 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the 2011 Hong Kong Derby among others.
It remains to be seen if the likes of Singapore Sling and Nassa will reach the same heady heights, but Millard knows that in this game of high attrition rate, those purse strings must be released constantly to stay competitive, especially in one of the toughest but most remunerative racing cauldrons in the world.
“I won the Derby the first year, but Hong Kong is very tough. I’ve had some lean pickings, too,” said Millard who has two daughters, Dominique (who also came to watch Horse Of Fortune run in the Kranji Mile) and Rebecca who is in boarding school in South Africa.
“Some very good trainers have come and gone. You’ve got to keep on producing.
“It’s a different ball game there. Owners are very fickle, if you don’t produce, they move their horses.
“But we’ve had very good years, like during the Ambitious Dragon years or when I had the most winners on 50 and made the most money.
“This season has been one of my best. I have a strike rate of 13% (30 winners from 240 starters) and the horses are running consistently.”
At the dawn of his 20th season in Hong Kong, Millard looks all set to keep the steam train chugging along as he seeks to expand his team further.
South African imports are still lengthy and onerous, with talks of veterinary controls being relaxed in the near future still work in progress. But Millard continues to tap into a market he is familiar with – along with the more traditional ones like Australia and New Zealand.
“I’ve got 10 new horses from Australia and New Zealand on the way,” said Millard who has 52 horses in work.
“But I’ve also got a couple of nice horses from South Africa who are on their way soon. Monks Hood is arguably the best three-year-old in South Africa. He won the SA Guineas and was trained by Alistair Gordon.
“The other one is Edict Of Nantes. He won two Group 1 races there and can become a very nice horse in Hong Kong.
“South African bloodstock is proven and one of the best in the world and Horse Of Fortune is one of them.
“His sire Stronghold is not well known, but he sure can run with the top class horses. Tomorrow, Caspar’s (Fownes) horse (Southern Legend) is the class horse, and they’ve never met before, but I hope my horse can run a good race.”
