Trainer Kuah Cheng Tee is in no hurry to bring his stable star Forever Young back to the races after he decided the dual Group winner needed more time to touch up on his fitness if his last place in Tuesday’s barrier trial was anything to go by.
Last year’s Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) winner (who followed up with the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy over 1800m three months later) settled in fifth for French jockey Marc Lerner in the early stages before dropping to last in the run home, around 7 ½ lengths off the winner Bangkok Boy.
Even if Kuah did tell Lerner to give the US-bred four-year-old by Run Away And Hide a quiet trial, he was expecting a bit more than the tame manner he just dropped to last.
A possible tilt at the last feature race of the Singapore season, the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1600m) on December 9 has been on the cards, with a lead-up race the preferred scenario, but Kuah has had to reshuffle plans a little on the back of Tuesday’s average trial.
“I’m not going to rush Forever Young. He hurt his near front fetlock after his last trial (April 10) and I told Marc to take it easy with him this morning,” said Kuah.
“I was looking at the Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m next Tuesday, but after Marc’s feedback this morning, I will scratch him.
“Marc said he was not 100%. We could have still gone for that race and used it as a race to top him off, but I’d rather wait, especially after the fetlock injury.
“In any case, I think today’s trial will definitely bring him on. We will have to step up on his work and maybe give him another trial if he is to go to the Colonial Chief.”
Lerner taking the reins in the barrier trial was a strong pointer as to who will jump on the four-time winner next, be it in the Colonial Chief Stakes or another race.
Forever Young, who has not raced since his unplaced run in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) in March, never really had a regular partner with as many as seven jockeys jumping on at his 15 starts, with Singapore Gold Cup-winning jockey Benny Woodworth the most successful being aboard at the two Group wins.
“It was my first time riding Forever Young. I know he’s a Group 1 winner for CT, but he felt a bit flat when I asked him to go this morning,” said Lerner.
“He will improve from that trial, but it’s up to the trainer to decide what he wants to do.”
Since his Kranji debut in mid-September, Lerner has ridden one winner to-date, Moritz Eclipse on November 2.
Despite the slow start, due mainly to three suspensions adding up to eight days for careless riding and support taking a while to come through, the son of French trainer Carlos Lerner remained confident things will get better.
“It’s a tough learning curve, but I remain positive,” said Lerner who rode mainly for some big owners in Germany before heading up to Singapore.
‘Trainers like Hideyuki Takaoka, Leslie Khoo and CT have been giving me rides in trackwork and races. I just need to ride a few winners to get that extra kick along.”
