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Champion jockey Vlad Duric is looking forward to his next two high-profile rides for leading trainer Lee Freedman – Infantry and Circuit Land.
While the Australian rider has already teamed up twice with 2017 Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry at his last two outings, albeit without winning, he will be at his first sit on the Hong Kong-owned Circuit Land, the horse who gave Freedman his first Singapore silverware when he won the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) in April.
Both horses have not been sighted since their unplaced runs in the Invitational Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on May 26 with Infantry producing the better run (fifth) behind the Hong Kong 1-2 of Southern Legend and Horse Of Fortune. Ridden by French visiting jockey Alexis Badel, Circuit Land ran ninth.
It was also to be Infantry’s farewell run for trainer Alwin Tan, capping an outstanding record of nine wins, including four at Group level, notably the 2017 Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) and close to $2 million in stakes earnings under his helm. The Thai-owned son of Tavistock was transferred shortly after to Freedman.
Infantry may have changed yard, but not the jockey. Duric keeps the ride at his racing comeback in the $200,000 Group 3 Moonbeam Vase (1600m) on September 2.
Freedman has also booked Duric to partner Circuit Land in next Sunday’s $200,000 Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m). The US-bred seven-year-old by Mizzen Mast was a four-time winner in Hong Kong before his owner Dey Ngo Tai Tak sent him to Singapore last year in a bid to resurrect his career.
“I rode Infantry yesterday and he felt good. He’s just been doing evens and three-quarter pace, but Lee should be stepping up on his work soon,” said Duric.
“With one of the terms of the Moonbeam Vase saying that a horse who hasn’t won at his last five races will get 1.5kgs relief, he will get in at 55.5kgs.
“It’s a great weight for him first-up. I will definitely ride him at that weight.
“I’m also excited to be riding that other good horse of Lee’s, Circuit Land. I’ve never ridden him before but I saw his win in the Chairman’s Trophy and he showed a lot of guts to win even though he was trapped three wide.
“I will ride him in the Jumbo Jet next week. I will trial him tomorrow and have a better idea how he is going.”
There was actually a possibility the two gun horses could have been clashing in the same race, but Freedman eventually split them up.
“I’m still getting to know Infantry. I’ve slowly brought him up and he is going the right way,” said the Australian handler.
“We thought the mile first-up was more his go than the Jumbo Jet Trophy. So, he will be in the Moonbeam Vase and Circuit Land will run in the Jumbo Jet, unless I have instructions saying otherwise, but so far none have come through.
“I spoke to Mr Ngo a few weeks ago and he told me Circuit Land’s record over 1400m in Hong Kong was pretty good. So we’ve always had the Jumbo Jet in mind for him as his comeback race.
“Look, I really don’t know why he didn’t run well in the Kranji Mile. Sometimes, horses run below-par and we have to accept it.
“More importantly, he’s come back good and he is ready to run next week. Same thing with Infantry, we’ll just take things as they come.”
Meanwhile, Duric said he was not expecting fireworks this weekend, but has still singled out four horses as his main bullets to help extend his four-win lead on Michael Rodd (46 versus 42 wins).
“It’s going to be pretty quiet this week, but on Friday, I’ve picked up a nice ride from Lee, Nowyousee, and two nice rides with Bossy (Glen Boss) suspended, Absolvido and Triple Trio in the two Class 4 races over 1400m,” he said.
“Lee wanted to run Nowyousee in a Class 2 race, but I told him he would beat a Class 3 field more easily – plus I can ride him at that weight (56kgs). It was just an idea I put forward, and Lee went with it, so I was pretty happy with that.
“Absolvido is a nice horse and I’m excited to be riding him. Triple Trio had no luck in that race in which the apprentice jockey Hairi Marzuki fell, Bossy had to ease him down.
“He was very impressive at his previous win, and I think he should go well, too.
“On Sunday, I haven’t got much, but I do like Lim’s Zoom in the last race (Class 4 Non Premier over 1200m).“I made a mistake on him at his last run. From the wide gate, I rode him too aggressive to find the lead.
“I’ll ride him quieter this time, and hopefully that will teach him to come back, to settle better on the bit, and he should have a kick left in him.”