Trainer John O’Hara is hoping a rise in distance can spark Friendship up again.
The lightly-raced Irish-bred five-year-old he also owns in partnership with good friend Kenny Tan and simply named Friendship, has two wins on the board in 12 starts spread over two years, both recorded over 1200m on Polytrack.
The last one came more than a year ago at Class 4 level. Risen to Class 3 company thereafter, Friendship has since found competition a lot tougher, a situation compounded further by injury.
“He had a fetlock chip and did not race for a while. That’s why he had a bit of an interrupted programme,” said O’Hara.
“I’ve given him all the time he needed to recover. After we’ve run him over short trips mostly, we thought it was the right time to try him over further.
“I’ve stepped up on his stamina work, and we’ll see how he goes. I would have preferred a Class 3 race, the Kranji Stakes C is a bit strong, but there was no such race.
“Kenny is a good friend and has been very patient with this horse. I hope the horse can repay him and myself with a good run even if it looks tough.
“But the horse is in good form and fingers crossed, he handles the mile. Glen Boss will ride him.”
The Australian jockey has teamed up with the son of Dublin at his last four starts. Unsighted at his first two outings, Friendship was warming up late at the last two over 1100m and 1000m respectively, but clearly ran out of time and distance on both occasions.
At his last start on September 23, Friendship saw them all, but made stacks of ground to run seventh, just a touch over four lengths off the winner Cadet.
“He was warming up late over 1000m at his last run. The mile is a test but from the way he’s been running lately, I think he’ll be okay,” said O’Hara.
After a flying start to the season, which he even temporarily led on the trainer’s log in January, O’Hara has slipped off the radar, to now sit on 12 winners in the lower part of the table, eight shy of his score last year.
“It’s been a quiet year. But I have a small loyal band of owners who, through thick and thin, have stuck with me,” said O’Hara who registered his last win with Dominy on September 25.
“I thank them for their support.”
