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rainer Bruce Marsh is pinning his hopes on his stalwart pair of Cheetah On Fire and Hypernova to bring home a good result in the $250,000 Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1200m) on Sunday.
While he is clueless about the form of the three Korean raiders Parang Juuibo, Always Winner and Triple Five, he said he would be ill-advised to write them off, but it’s the devil he knows he fears the most – the local entries, especially Lincoln Road.
Still, the Kiwi mentor is confident his pair can hold their own in the second renewal of the reciprocal race between the Singapore Turf Club and the Korea Racing Authority.
But if he had to split them, he seemed to swing a fraction towards Hypernova, a six-year-old by Elusive City, who will, however, be aiming to significantly improve on his 10th place to Super Winner in last year’s KRA Trophy.
“They’re both in good shape and the field is not overly strong. I don’t know anything about the Korean horses, whether they are better than the three who ran last year,” said Marsh.
“Lincoln Road is the up-and-comer in the race and to me, he will be the horse to beat, but my two horses are in it to win it. Hypernova is in good form and a fast pace upfront will suit him.
“He was back freshened up from a seven-month break two weeks ago and he charged home late for second to Super Winner. It was a super run, and on that, you’d have to give him a good chance on Sunday.”
Marsh acknowledged that Cheetah On Fire’s days as a sprinter go a fair way back (four wins over 1200m on Polytrack recorded between 2013 and 2014) ever since the son of One Cool Cat had been stepped up in distance, but a switch back to the rising eight-year-old’s first love could spark him off again.
“Cheetah On Fire ran great over 1400m two runs back. He showed a flying finish to run fourth to Good News who will be in that race again,” he said.
“But at his last race over the mile, he faded badly. He didn’t go a yard and I’ve put that down on a bad day.
“Let’s hope he will show us a better side of himself on Sunday.”
This season has not got off to the brightest start for Marsh, but the amiable trainer will take every win that comes his way – such as Emergency Acceptor Zahir on Sunday - with the same glee, while awaiting the return of the best horse under his barn roof, War Affair, which incidentally has yet to race under his name since moving to him at the end of last year.
“It was good to see Zahir (x Any Suggestion) win on Sunday. His owner who is from India, was really rapt his horse got a run and actually won!” said Marsh who helms a team of only 45-odd horses.
“He’s no world-beater as you can tell from that first win finally coming at his 15th start, but you should see the enthusiasm when I rang the owner to let him know his horse had won.
“Toobigtofail has also been good to us since he moved to our yard. He’s now won back-to-back races, though he could not quite quicken at his last start.
“As for War Affair, he’s coming along very well and we’ll be stepping up on his work very soon. We’ll then decide when he’ll be ready to make his comeback.”
The 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year has not been seen since a narrow second to Quechua in last year’s Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) more than a year ago when then prepared by trainer Alwin Tan. The 14-time winner and earner of more than $2.7 million was gearing up for his new yard when Marsh decided to pull the pin on his campaign over concerns on his fitness level.