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Jockey Manoel Nunes is looking forward to Sunday’s feature race, the Group 2 $300,000 Stewards’ Cup over 1400m.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The race kicks-off the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge and Nunes will partner the Alvin Tan-trained Speedy Cat.
The New Zealand-bred son of Scaredee Cat was a last start sixth in the International Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on May 19 and Nunes believes the gelding was unlucky not to have finished in the placings.
He said a check on entering the straight put an end to his chances in that race and believes the gelding was lucky not to fall.
“I got sandwiched between the Japanese horse (Dasher Go Go) who was weakening and the Australian (Bel Sprinter) horse that ran second and was lucky not to fall,” said Nunes.
“My horse was travelling very well at the time and the way he finishes his races off I am confident that he would have run into the placings.
“He was knocked down and by the time I picked him up, balanced him up and got going again it was too much of a task.”
Nunes gave Speedy Cat his final gallop for Sunday’s race on the main Polytrack on Tuesday morning and said the gelding felt in great order.
“He felt happy and fresh and I was very pleased with how he galloped on Tuesday morning,” said Nunes.
“He runs his best races when his runs are spaced and it will be three weeks since he last ran in the KrisFlyer.
“The 1400m is also a much better distance for him. I would have preferred the race to have been on the long course as that would allow him to get out and run on, but 1400m on the short course is better for him than the 1200m on the short course.
“It’s a pity they don’t have 1400m races on the Polytrack. He has a very good record on the Polytrack and the 1400m for me is his best distance.”
Speedy Cat claimed his biggest success and provided his trainer with his first win in a ‘Black Type’ race when he took out the Group 3 Merlion Trophy over 1200m on the Polytrack in March.
Nunes said the barrier draw made the Stewards’ Cup an interesting contest with Super Easy, who defeated Speedy Cat two starts back in the Group 1 Lion City Cup over 1200m on April 28, drawing the outside barrier in the 11 horse line-up.
“We’ve drawn barrier seven and Super Easy has drawn out in barrier 11,” said Nunes. “I’ll be able to see where he is in the run and keep an eye on him.
“Accelarometer has some good form in Australia and has trialled nicely and is a query runner, but he too has drawn out.
“There looks to be good pace with El Milagro and City Lad frontrunners, so hopefully we won’t get too far back in the run.”