Panasonic Kranji Mile-winning trainer Cliff Brown was not exactly oozing a lot of confidence ahead of the next task at hand, this Sunday’s $700,000 Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m).
The Australian did capture the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series with his gun horse Debt Collector, but the issue was anything but a foregone conclusion for the whole length of the straight.
Ridden by usual partner Michael Rodd, Debt Collector, who shared joint favouritism with War Affair in the Group 1 race over 1600m on October 9, unleashed his usual late powerful burst on the outside, but had an equally fast-finishing foe to contend with on the inside: Well Done.
Not to mention the David Kok-trained galloper, who was at his comeback race since his Emirates Singapore Derby win back in July, got checked twice at crucial stages of the race, but under Glen Boss's steering, still finished within a neck of Debt Collector.
An air of revenge will waft through the much-anticipated second Leg on Sunday, but Brown said it was not just Well Done who was baying for blood.
“It really is a hard race. I’m by no means confident Debt Collector will win,” said Brown who also saddles Laughing Gravy in the Raffles Cup.
“All the other horses will improve significantly from that run in the Kranji Mile, and it’s not just Well Done. I think War Affair, Mr Spielberg and Majestic Moments will all show natural improvement on Sunday.
“But it was Well Done’s run that was the most outstanding. He had no luck and was only just beaten by Debt Collector.
“He was first-up and he will improve on his fitness. I think he will be hard to beat.
“The one positive thing for us is the Long Course. That will help Debt Collector for sure.”
Though the son of Thorn Park will be his leading hope, Brown is not at all dismissing the chances of his second stringer Laughing Gravy, especially after he ran a nice second in a barrier trial on Tuesday. The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (2000m) winner led in the Kranji Mile but was a beaten horse shortly after straightening, running second-last.
Ridden by Rodd, in replacement of race-jockey John Powell who was unavailable at the trials, the Primus six-year-old began well to sit in third spot off the leader Iconnic (Saifudin Ismail) before jogging to the line without coming out of second gear to run a neck-second to Sun Mirage (Wong Chin Chuen).
“That was a very nice trial. He always has a trial run the same week heading into a race, he needs it,” said Brown.
“He is a natural frontrunner and that’s how he should run to be at his best, but he just overraced in the Kranji Mile for some reason. He threw his head up and I knew it would be tough for him then. I just hope he can relax better this time.
“I’m very happy with his form, I’m actually happy with both. All is good, but like I said, the others have improved a few lengths since the last time they met, and it will be a tough, but exciting race.”
Brown has already indicated that win or lose on Sunday, Debt Collector would not continue to the last Leg, the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20, but Laughing Gravy will be a runner.
The winner of two Legs earns a bonus of $50,000 while a clean sweep would entitle the winner to a bonus of $300,000, a feat which has not been accomplished as yet.
