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No fewer than five Singapore hopefuls to the two International Group 1 races on May 17 stepped out in the same barrier trial on Thursday morning in one of the last touch-ups to the home team with only just over a week to go.
Trainer Patrick Shaw saddled three of his four Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) runners, Quechua, Slew Of Lode and Johnny Guitar while fellow SIA Cup runner Wild Geese (Steven Burridge) and KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) contender El Padrino were also in the mix.
Likely Singapore Guineas favourite Affleck (Michael Rodd) was the one who came out tops ahead of Accomplished (Joseph See), with the quintet of Internationals queueing up right behind in that order – Johnny Guitar (Barend Vorster), El Padrino (Oscar Chavez), Quechua (Corey Brown), Slew Of Lode (Nooresh Juglall) and Wild Geese (Mick Lockett) with only sixth-placed Sir Lovesalot (John Powell) splitting the group.
Vorster, who will be aboard Shaw’s fourth runner and recent Dubai import Cooptado in the SIA Cup, was warming up the saddle for superstar Joao Moreira while the rest were all race-riders save for Lockett, Burridge’s senior track rider. Craig Newitt will hop aboard Wild Geese, whom he partnered to a fourth place in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on April 26.
“He ran really well. He’s in great shape,” said Vorster who rode the Fred Crabbia-owned Johnny Guitar to a distant ninth to Dan Excel in last year’s SIA Cup.
“Couldn’t be happier with him. He will have another gallop on Saturday and he should be spot-on.”
Brown, who has tasted consecutive defeats, including two narrow seconds, with Longines Singapore Gold Cup winner Quechua since his Group 3 New Year Cup (1900m) victory, was giving the thumbs-up after the barrier trial.
“He went good, mate. He tracked up real good and hit the line really well,” said Brown.
“Everything is in good order. Pat and the boys have done a great job with him.”
The results were, however, less conclusive for the third Shaw runner.
“He pulled a shoe. Ignore that run,” said Juglall, who will be at his first association with the second Crabbia SIA Cup runner.
But the jockey who probably came away with the best report had to be Chavez (pictured), who was pleasantly surprised with the way El Padrino, unseen since his fantastic fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m) in Meydan in March, was so forward in the trial.
“Usually, he doesn’t trial very well, but he was so keen this morning and was in a good spot throughout,” said the Panamanian-born hoop.
“From the start, he jumped to be with them and was out in a good mood when, normally, he can’t be bothered to keep up with them.
“Obviously he was fresh from the break and will come on from that run, but no matter how fit he is, the distance and the grass are still a question mark for him.”
Last year, the son of Mr Nancho tailed off badly before running on late for sixth to Lucky Nine, while Chavez was aboard the second Alwin Tan sprinter Captain Obvious, who ran fourth after showing the way.
Tan’s stable supervisor Jason Ong was also delighted with El Padrino’s hit-out, saying the six-year-old bay will have, as to be expected, one more gallop under his belt next week.
“That was one of his most serious gallops since Dubai,” said Ong.
“He’s been quarantined up for a while now and I think that has sharpened him up. He will have one more run next week and he will be spot-on for the big night.”