Underrated jockey John Sundradas is not the most fashionable name when it comes to Group races at Kranji, but a quick check revealed that the local hoop has actually ridden in around 20 such races in the last five years.

Not bad for the former Singapore champion apprentice jockey who does not exactly command big books of rides these days, and whose last feature race success in Singapore dates as far back as Always Fast for trainer Don Baertschiger (Shane’s father) in the Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m) in 2007.

As a lightweight jockey, John has picked up a few longshot rides in the country’s premier handicap, the Singapore Gold Cup, but in the last three years, there is one horse who alone supplied him with 14 of his big-race rides - Cavallo.

The Testa Rossa seven-year-old and John have yet to get their names up in lights, with the closest they came being a second place to Spalato in last year’s Group 3 Woodlands Handicap (1200m), but they are at it for a 15th stab at glory this Sunday, the $200,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes over 1400m.

Though John has ridden Cavallo at the last 34 of the gelding’s 46 starts for five of his total tally of nine wins (in lesser grade races), he would know better not to ooze too much confidence as they once again try to crack it for a first Group win together, but somehow, his voice betrayed more than a hint of confidence this time.

“The horse is in good shape as we saw at his last run. He ran on very strongly but just could not catch the winner Royal Ruler,” said John referring to the last run (BM97 race over 1100m on September 30) when for the first time racing for Alwin Tan (fourth trainer after Michael Freedman, Sam Chua and Mok Zhan Lun in five seasons).

“He galloped today and I was very happy with his work. He’s maintained his good form.

“I know this horse has been trying many times in Group races and you would think he’s not quite up to the elite level, but the Saas Fee Stakes is not all that strong this year.

“Some say he’s more of a Polytrack horse, but he’s won twice over turf and I was aboard both times, including once over 1400m, and I don’t think it will be a problem on Sunday.

“He’s the kind of horse who needs a genuine pace and he will then have a last crack at them.

“He’s got a big heart. If we get luck in the running, he should be thereabouts.

“I haven’t won a feature race since Littlebitofjoy in the Perak Derby in 2013, and it’s even longer at Kranji – Always Fast in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy in 2006 and the Group 3 Kranji Sprint the next year.

“It would be nice if I could do it again this Sunday. I don’t think I’ll get a better chance than this.”

Tan, who also saddles Nova Strike in the race, said he was still learning about Cavallo, but taking a line through his last run, he expects him to run a bold race on Sunday.

“I don’t know Cavallo well but it looks like he came to us in very good shape. He nearly won at his last race,” said the current leading trainer who is on the Gold Coast attending the Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale.

“He will have a lighter weight (54kg) this time and he should go close. The race will suit him if there is a solid pace upfront.

“The only question mark is how good he is on turf. I spoke to John and he seems to be quite confident.”

Tan said the level of confidence was also relatively high for his other runner, Nova Strike, a five-time winner on Polytrack in a row before scoring his last win on turf, and over 1400m.

“I spoke with Manoel Nunes and he said he was very happy with Nova Strike’s condition,” said the Singaporean conditioner of the four-year-old son of Red Giant.

“He’s also got a low weight (53.5kg) and if he draws a good barrier, he should have a say.

“Last time, he was wide throughout and was caught wide without cover. Even though he’s not very big, he still fought all the way.

“He looked beat when the others quickened at the 300m but he just kept on and for his hard work, he was repaid with a fifth place less than one length off War Affair.

“I thought it was a huge run and I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s pulled up from that run as it was quite a hard race. He should run on in the Saas Fee.”