As planned by trainer Cliff Brown, EW Barker Trophy winner Mister Yeoh gets his 2019 campaign underway in the $200,000 Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) next Wednesday, even if the Australian had no idea it would be such a “hot race”.
The four-year-old son of Wanted will be pitted against pretty much the crème de la crème of Kranji racing in the traditional Chinese New Year feature race.
Of the capacity field of 16 facing the starter, 10 are ‘black type’ winners, while most of the remaining six are all regular fixtures in feature races.
While Mr Yeoh himself boasts two Group wins to his name – he also claimed the second Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Classic over 1400m last year – Brown felt that this year’s Fortune Bowl will be the ultimate test.
“The Fortune Bowl was always meant to be his comeback race, but to be honest, I didn’t think it would be such a hot race,” said Brown.
“That will be by far the hardest race he will ever run in. It will give us a good gauge where he really is.”
Brown was fairly pleased with Mister Yeoh’s prep since coming back from the post-EW Barker break, capped by a casual spin at the Kranji barrier trials on Thursday.
Ridden by regular partner Michael Rodd, Mister Yeoh ambled around on the outside, happy to stay the rear as a trio of horses fought out the finish – Mighty Kenny (Barend Vorster), Super Fortune (Benny Woodworth) and Special King (senior track rider) locked together in that order on the line.
“He needed the trial as he was a bit big at the first one. I think he’s good enough to run in the Fortune Bowl,” he said.
“He had a good break after the EW Barker Trophy. He didn’t grow any stronger, he’s still the same, but he seems in good order and is fit.”
Rodd, however, felt the gelding raced by Australian owners Nick Turnbull, Peter Hoban and Gary Davey, has come on a little since his last run.
“He’s not an overly big horse, but I think he’s thickened up during the break,” said the Australian jockey.
“Today was his second trial after last week’s (January 24 when second to Lim’s Magic). He needed another one as he’s going first-up over 1400m.
“It was more of a maintenance run today as he did a bit more at the first one. He’s never brilliant in his trials as he doesn’t like the Polytrack, but I’m happy where he is at.”
Just like Brown, Rodd was in awe at the depth of this year’s Fortune Bowl, a race that began as a 2000m event at its inception in 2010 before being shortened to 1600m in 2017 and 1400m last year.
“Except for Debt Collector and Elite Excalibur, all the gun horses are in the race,” said Rodd, using the two classy Brown horses as a benchmark.
“It’s amazing that we’re having such a competitive race so early in the season. It’s a tough race, but Mister Yeoh has drawn seven, which is a very nice draw for him.”
Runner-up to Vlad Duric last year, Rodd is again in the leading bunch, having already sprung the gates with five winners to sit fourth on the leader, two behind the surprise packet of the year, Noh Senari.
“I’m happy with the way things are going. I have basically kept going where I left off,” he said.
“I hope I stay consistent throughout the season.”
