Up-and-coming sprinter Special King is in this Sunday’s $200,000 Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) almost by default if one listens to trainer Alwin Tan, but that doesn’t mean he will be out of his depth at his first ‘black type’ test.
The Magnus entire has been a model of consistency since his first steps as a juvenile last year, going on to chalk up a handy record of four wins and six placings in 13 starts.
He may have run third at his last two starts, but they were arguably his more laudable runs. Tan had taken a leap of faith by skipping two grades from Kranji Stakes C to Kranji Stakes A level, with the results showing he could hold his own.
Special King was beaten just over one length by Rafaello at the first run and beaten just over half-a-length by Singapore Derby winner Jupiter Gold at the second run.
Tan is pushing the envelope even further this time, not only in terms of grade, but also the course.
“It’s very hard to find a race for Special King. I had to run him in Kranji Stakes A at his last starts, but he did very well,” said the 2016 Singapore champion trainer who has picked lightweight jockey Barend Vorster for the ride at 50.5kgs.
“I told the owners (WL Wu Loong Stable) we have to aim higher with this horse. The Garden City Trophy was a race I had planned for him, even if it’s on turf.
“He’s a Polytrack horse, and ran on turf only once. It was at his debut as a two-year-old - he didn’t do very well.
“I had no other choice, but I’m hoping that with more race experience, he can handle it better this time.
“He’s maintained his condition since his last win. He’s a very straightforward horse to train even if he is still a stallion.
“The field is not very strong, but it’s still a challenge for him to be so up in class. The good thing is he will carry only 50.5kgs. Let’s see how he performs.”
Tan also saddles a runner in the main feature race of the day, the $1 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) – Nova Strike, but felt the Red Giant six-year-old would really have to lift from his last-start dismal run in the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series (of which the QEII Cup is the second Leg), the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m), to be of any kind of threat on Sunday.
“Nova Strike was caught wide in the Raffles Cup. I feel he will again be disadvantaged at the weights,” he said.
“The horse is in good shape, but will need plenty of luck. If he can draw a low gate, it may help him run a better race.”
If there was one horse Tan was glad he had finally put in a better effort, even if it was in a barrier trial, it had to be Galvarino, but he has learned to take the Stryker three-year-old with a pinch of salt.
Undeniably blessed with raw talent as his second to Lim’s Lightning in July’s Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) would attest, Galvarino, however, ruins it all at the start.
Shortly after the start at his last outing in a Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on September 21, Galvarino, who was backed down to short-priced favouritism, went totally off tangent from his outside barrier to scrape paint against the outside rails, serving the race on a platter to Calculation.
Made to jump from an outside gate, a prerequisite laid down by the Stewards, at his barrier trial on Tuesday, Galvarino with a track rider up, didn’t go haywire this time.
If anything, he flew straight as a die to the lead, opened up to a commanding lead downhill before sliding away further coming to the home straight, only to come back late to the pack inside the last furlong. He still won with 1 ¼ lengths to spare from My Friends (Nooresh Juglall).
While it was a big tick in the box, Tan could not be 100% sure the erratic galloper had kicked the habit for good.
“He did well in his barrier trial before and then got it all wrong in a race. I’m still worried he will do it again in a race,” he said.
“I’ll see how he pulls up and get him fitter for his next start. I haven’t decided yet when he’ll run.”
