Jockey Michael Rodd was pleasantly surprised with the way Mister Yeoh trialled on Thursday, a likely indication the dual Group 2 winner has furnished into the complete athlete.
Usually less eager in his barrier trials, the Cliff Brown-trained Wanted four-year-old landed into a prominent spot this time around, clapping onto the speed set by leader Kiss Your Song (John Powell) before ambling to the line in fourth spot around 4 ¼ lengths off the winner Mighty Emperor (Krisna Thangamani).
The winning partner at two of Mister Yeoh’s four wins, including the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) (Ben Thompson was aboard at the other Group 2 win in the EW Barker Trophy over 1400m in November), Rodd would be in a good position to assess the progress made by Australian owner Nick Turnbull’s gelding.
“That trial was excellent. He’s had a nice freshen-up since his last run,” said Rodd who was aboard at Mister Yeoh’s first-up run in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) in February when a closing fourth to Blizzard.
“I have to say he put in a great trial today even if it was a quiet trial. He doesn’t love the Polytrack and he’s usually quite lethargic, but today he felt more forward.
“He’s come a long way since his first start. He was small and rather slight of frame, but he’s furnished into a bigger and stronger horse now.
“He looks really good. Cliff has done a really great job spacing his runs; if it’s not the right race, he just won’t run him.
“He’s being prepared for the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) on May 5, and he’ll probably have another trial until then.”
Assistant-trainer Tim Fitzsimmons (pictured above) confirmed that Mister Yeoh would need another such hit-out before he faces the starter. He added that Zac Kasa, their other star sprinter who actually ran second to Mister Yeoh in the EW Barker, would be plotting an identical path as Mister Yeoh from thereon in.
“Mister Yeoh’s great. He seems to have come back stronger after a little break,” said Brown’s right-hand man.
“He will need another trial. His targets are the Rocket Man Sprint in three weeks’ time and then the Lion City Cup, and then the Four-Year-Old series .
“Zac Kasa will follow exactly the same path.”
The Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) will be run on May 25 while the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, originally canned but reinstated with the introduction of a new first Leg to kick it off, the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on June 9, will culminate with the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 21. The second Leg, the Group 3 Stewards’ Cup, now stepped up to the mile, is due on June 30.
On the other hand, last year’s Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) winner Elite Excalibur, who was also at the barrier trials on Thursday, just cantering around a distant last to Marine Treasure, is being aimed at completely different races.
“Elite Excalibur’s been out for a while (since his unplaced effort in the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup won by the other Elite Stable horse Elite Invincible, trained by Mark Walker),” said Fitzsimmons of the Fastnet Rock six-year-old.
“He had a soft trial this morning. He’ll have another hit-out and will then go for the Moonbeam Vase first-up and then the Kranji Mile.”
The Group 3 Moonbeam Vase (1600m) on May 5 is the lead-up race to the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on May 25, a race in which Elite Excalibur features among 21 entries received on Wednesday, including a team of four Hong Kong nominations, headed by none other than last year’s inaugural winner Southern Legend.
The Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) won last Sunday by Brown’s champion Debt Collector, is the other Kranji Mile lead-up race. It was pushed back from its original date of March 3 to April 7.
“The Chairman’s Trophy has come up a bit too fast for Elite Excalibur even after it was moved,” said Fitzsimmons.
“The Moonbeam Vase was always meant to be his comeback race.”
