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The trip and conditions of the $200,000 Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) were the main draws for Kingsman’s first-up run since his last-start failure in the Singapore Derby four weeks ago.
The son of Darci Brahma was one of the top picks (third favourite after Elite Invincible ad Jupiter Gold who ran 1-2 in the reverse order) for the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m), the third Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
Three weeks earlier, he ran a fast-closing second to stablemate Elite Invincible in the second Leg, the Group 1 Giovanni Racing Charity Bowl (1600m), but Walker was not as confident.
The Te Akau Racing Stable-owned gelding might have hit his peak at the right time, but the distance could be the only chink in his armour, Walker thought.
The Kiwi two-time Singapore champion trainer was unfortunately spot-on. The signs of distress that he wouldn’t take an active part in the finish were already unmistakable from the 400m.
Caught three wide from a wide alley, Kingsman was dropped at the rear from the start before improving from the 800m, but still out in the cheap seats. He still looked half-a-chance when he was launched by Craig Grylls at the top of the straight, but he looked dour in his action before weakening to 11th to Jupiter Gold, 15 lengths astern.
“He didn’t see out the distance. 1400m is his pet distance and he can just about get the mile,” said Walker.
“The Derby was a tough race, but he’s come back good. We hand-walked him for 10 days and have slowly brought him back.
“The Jumbo Jet Trophy is the perfect race for his comeback, especially at the weights and conditions.
“He’s extremely well-weighted. With his rating and the conditions, I had actually long targeted that race for him.
“As Craig couldn’t make the weight, Alysha Collett will be riding him.”
On 51kgs, Kingsman and Absolute Miracle are the two bottomweights of the race, in receipt of as much as seven kilos from Debt Collector and Bahana.
Kingsman is not the only Te Akau Racing-owned Darci Brahma going around this weekend. A creditable second to the untouchable Bold Thruster at his second start in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Derby day, three-year-old Axel will look to go one better in a similar event on Friday, but again, Walker is treading carefully.
“The Short Course E is a tricky course. It’s not ideal for a big-striding horse like Axel,” he said.
“He has drawn four, which doesn’t help, but the horse is in good shape and I hope he runs well.”
Walker has handed the Axel ride to his apprentice jockey Mohd Firdaus in a race that will feature a trio gallopers belonging to Thai outfit Falcon Racing Stable – Blue Hawaii, Revolution and Top Knight, but all three for different trainers – Daniel Meagher, Alwin Tan and Michael Clements respectively.
Of the three, only Blue Hawaii is raced (one sixth at one start) while the other two are unraced, but are both barrier trial winners likely to be right in the market.