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Much improved galloper Street Legal takes the next big step on his climb up the ratings ladder when he lines-up in the Group 1 $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m on Sunday.
The Bruce Marsh-trained galloper is aiming for a “hat-trick” of wins following his last two victories over 2200m.
Street Legal has been one of the most improved gallopers on the Singapore racing scene in 2013, winning five races from his 11 starts during the year.
Resuming from a spell over 1100m on the Polytrack in March off a rating of 48, Street Legal, following his last start victory in a Benchmark 89 Stakes over 2200m on October 6, now has a rating of 89 going into the Raffles Cup.
With jockey Joao Moreia, who has piloted Street Legal to all five victories this year, now domiciled in Hong Kong, Corey Brown, who rode the gelding into third place at his only ‘Black Type’ appearance when third behind Nandowra in the Group 3 Yew Tee Classic Stakes over 1800m in July, regains the mount on Sunday.
The Raffles Cup will be Street Legal’s final prep run before he lines-up in the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on November 17.
Following Street Legal’s ridiculously easy victory at his last start on October 6 and with Moreira just about to head off to Hong Kong, Marsh was fielding calls from overseas for the mount in the Gold Cup while celebrating the victory with the owners.
“We were in the Champagne Room having a celebratory drink when I got a call from Glen Boss in Melbourne asking about the ride in Gold Cup,” said Marsh.
“It was barely ten minutes after the race when he rang putting himself up for the ride.
“That goes to show how good his win was the other day with a jockey from overseas calling for the ride and he looks to have continued his form on from that win.
“His gallop the other morning was good and I can’t fault him in any way.”
Marsh shakes his head in astonishment at the improvement Street Legal has made during 2013. The gelding had dropped to Class 5 grade in September last year, winning a 1900m Polytrack race in that grade.
“I really think it was a confidence thing with him,” said Marsh. “He got the taste of winning and he’s really turned the corner since.
“His last win really showed that. His placing behind Nandowra in that Group 3 race really showed the improvement he had made and he’s gone from strength-to-strength since.”
Marsh knows the weight-for-age conditions of Sunday’s race will make it a much more difficult contest for Street Legal who has been progressing through lower class races to the stage where he is now at.
“This race is going to be a completely different kettle of fish for him,” said Marsh. “Weight-for-age races are run at a different tempo and he’s coming back in distance from his last start.
“I just hope that the race is run at a nice tempo. He can be a funny horse if the pace is muddling, so hopefully it will be a nicely run race so that he can settle in the run.”