Trainer Ricardo Le Grange pleased watching Pennywise take out his last barrier trial before his raid in the Group 3 JBBA Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) next Friday week
He had every reason to be equally happy with the run of the other horse in the trial, a horse who had gone missing for around one and a half years – Time Odyssey.
The South African-bred had been plagued by tendon injuries, but with a good dose of patience, he was nursed back to race fitness by the South African handler.
A rising eight, the son of Jet Master (among only three South African-breds left at Kranji, the other two being Le Grange’s Mighty Emperor and Mr Fantastic) last ran on August 6, 2017 in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) when last to Forever Young.
Once regarded as a dominant force in the middle-distance ranks at Kranji, especially on Polytrack, the eight-time winner (1600m-1800m), possibly ran his best race in defeat when a gallant second to Bahana in the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) in 2016.
He continued to progress through the ranks to stamp his mark at the top level, last scoring in a Kranji Stakes A over 1700m in April 2017.
But badly interfered at his next start in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) taken by his stablemate Quechua, Time Odyssey showed chequered form thereafter before his leg woes got the better of him.
To see the former Avengers Racing Stable stalwart back at the trials on Thursday was like a blast from the past, and to see him finish third was even more satisfying for Le Grange, albeit under a persuasive Juan van der Merwe in the concluding stages.
As is often the cue for Le Grange’s gallopers, a barrier trial would be the harbinger of an imminent racing comeback.
“It feels like he’s been away for five years!” said Le Grange who has taken over Time Odyssey from the Yongs.
“He did a tendon. Let’s hope he can handle it enough to get over his past problems.
“JP said he felt very good. Obviously, he was a little flat-footed once the horses in front turned it on, but he ran on well.
“We’ll see how he pulls up. If all’s good, he will run in a Class 1 race over 1200m on turf next Sunday (April 7).”
As for Pennywise, Le Grange said that the Argentinian-bred son of Pure Prize was in tip-top order and has come on further since his all-the-way win at his second 2019 assignment in a Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack.
Ridden by Callan Murray on Thursday, the five-time winner (all on Polytrack) was one of the best away and though nearly headed by Dutrow (Matthew Kellady) on the rails, he kept on to score by half-a-length.
“That was a good trial by Pennywise. He’s now had two trials back and Callan was happy with both,” said Le Grange.
“He is ready to run in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge next Friday.”
