After having little luck at the barrier draw last week, trainer Shane Baertschiger was pleased with his better fortunes this Friday when his trio of horses were handed low numbers in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m.
The Australian was not too impressed with the ordinary draws that his team was slapped with last weekend, even if he still came away with two wins (Dutrow on Friday and Flak Jacket on Sunday) to cement his third place on the ladder on 47 winners.
But it’s always easier when you draw closer to the inner running rails, and Faaltless, Caorunn and Red Dawn have all picked the right alleys for Baertschiger on Friday. Recent Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) winner Faaltless (with Hong Kong rising star Matthew Poon up) has drawn marble one while last-start winner Caorunn and Red Dawn will begin from gates No 4 and 6 respectively.
“You would think when you have three runners, one or two will draw badly, but for a change, they all drew quite well,” said Baertschiger.
“Last week, I had Soldado drawn 11 from 11, Best Tothelign, 11 from 12, I’ve Got A Feeling, 11 from 14. Draws are important at Kranji especially in sprint races.”
Luck of the draw aside, Baertschiger is relatively happy with his three-pronged attack, though he is leaning more towards Faaltless as his leading pick if he had to split them.
“On ratings, Faaltless (98) is the proven horse out of the three,” he said.
“The 1400m of the Jumbo Jet Trophy was too far for him (ninth) at his last start. The 1200m will suit him better.”
From his seven wins, the Faltaat seven-year-old recorded six of them over 1200m with only one coming over 1100m early doors.
“He is back in class, dropping from Group company to Kranji Stakes A. Vlad Duric will ride him and he’s drawn an alley, which is super,” said Baertschiger who is clearly enjoying his best season since taking over his father Don in 2012.
Baertschiger also rated Caorunn as an outside chance, even if he is aware the Showcasing four-year-old will be tackling a different kettle of fish this time.
“Caorunn won a nice race at his last start (August 27). He is the one who denied Laurie Laxon a last winner at his last day of training (at Kranji) when he beat Lim’s Shot, sorry Laurie!” said Baertschiger.
“It was a Kranji Stakes C race but he is in up in grade this time. He’s got no weight on his back (52kgs), he has drawn well, but the Long Course is against him.
“It’s the same story for Red Dawn as he’s also up in class, and he’s on turf this time, but all three are in good form and I hope they run well on Friday.”
The Auric Stable-owned Align six-year-old will be partnered by Baertschiger’s apprentice jockey Syafiq Hazman while his No 2 stable jockey Matthew Kellady hops aboard Caorunn, a horse he steered to one of his two wins at Kranji.
