3 minute read
Trainer Bruce Marsh’s disappointing run in last month’s Emirates Singapore Derby is already water under the bridge as he targets his well-beaten star duo of Gingerbread Man and Red Beard towards new riches this Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Gingerbread Man, who ran seventh, and Red Beard, who fared even worse when a long last in the 2000m showpiece on July 15, make their return to racing in the $200,000 Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m).
Both were regarded as leading hopes in the Derby, a race for four-year-olds that Marsh won twice (Hello And Goodbye in 2005 and Race Ahead in 2010) but neither put in a blow. His third runner longshot Hammer Down also ran dismally beating only stablemate Red Beard home for a most forgettable day for the Kiwi trainer.
While Marsh’s unlucky hand at the Derby post position draw (Gingerbread Man and Hammer Down drew off the track) might have already been a foreboding sign, he thought Gingerbread Man’s and Red Beard’s runs were not entirely without excuses when he took stock later on.
Red Beard, a noted backmarker who probably did not the get the best preparation towards the 2000m race, raced upside down by leading and then started to overrace for jockey Opie Bosson before vanishing away from a long way out. Conversely, Gingerbread Man, who normally prefers to sit handy, was always in strife when caught wide midfield under new partner Saimee Jumaat before just plodding on fairly in the home straight.
“I think we should ignore their runs in the Derby,” said Marsh. “Red Beard overraced. A horse clipped his heels, he got galloped on and he got all fired up from that.
“Gingerbread Man was trapped wide throughout and never got a chance to get in.
“He’s never run good when that wide. He has to be on the pace unless it is a 1200m race.
“They’re both in good order but maybe not quite ready. Both are still fat and probably a couple of runs short, but there was no other race for them.”
With the host of feature races over a mile and beyond coming up, mainly the three Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown Series (Kranji Mile, Raffles Cup and Singapore Gold Cup), Marsh has no shortage of big events lined up for the twosome.
“There are some nice races coming up for them. As there are no real lead-up to these races, I chose this race to get a line on them,” said Marsh.
“Until the next race comes up, at least I will get a proper guide as to where they stand now.”
Marsh has stuck with Saimee for the steering job on Gingerbread Man, a $1.38 million earner by Shamardal, while he has called upon John Powell (pictured above) as the new partner for Red Beard given that Bosson has gone back to New Zealand.
The Australian jockey is resuming from a nine-day ban incurred for three careless riding charges run consecutively this Sunday, and is looking forward to his first ride aboard the Auric Stable-owned gelding by Zenna Rob Roy.
“He’s a nice horse and it will be interesting to see how he goes first-up after the Derby and where he heads up after that,” said Powell who rides many of the Auric horses for trainer Shane Baertschiger. “Jerry (Sung of Auric) is the one who asked me to ride him.
“I trialled him the other day. He was drawn out wide, I just rode him quiet and he ran fair.”
Powell is taking it relatively easy for a first day back at the office following his long downtime by accepting only three other rides – Mongolian Star and Ravoux for Stephen Gray and Excuse My Friends for Baertschiger.
“I’m keen to be back after such a long time off. I went back to Australia with my daughter Madison, catching up with relatives and friends in the Gold Coast and Sydney.
“I’ve been back riding work for 1 ½ weeks now and I feel pretty fit. I’m now at 57kg and there is nothing like a few race rides to bring me down to a good riding weight.”
Powell currently sits in seventh spot on the Singapore jockey’s premiership on 25 winners for a decent strike rate of 11.74%.