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My Dreamliner is clearly a horse with a bit of a future in Singapore, but trainer Young Keah Yong is obviously mindful not to overtax him too early, despite his impressive debut win.
Ridden by Daniel Meagher’s apprentice jockey Chin Chee Seng that day, the Dream Ahead three-year-old went on to give his Restricted Maiden rivals a galloping lesson on December 2, making sure none of them passed him in the 1000m event.
Rested since, My Dreamliner will make his 2019 Kranji reappearance in Friday’s $50,000 Class 4 race, another 1000m speed dash on the Polytrack.
Just as at his debut win, My Dreamliner will get an apprentice jockey on his back, with the full allowance of four kilos the main carrot this time. To this end, Young is putting on Lee Freedman’s Malaysian apprentice jockey Iskandar Rosman.
“I want to give my horse a better chance by again putting an apprentice jockey on. The four-kilo claim will come in handy,” said Young.
“He’s by far my best chance for the weekend, but he’s still not fully mature yet. Fitness-wise, he’s pulled up okay after his first win, and seems to have improved, but he’s still a baby.
“I can only hope he can pull through his grades. It won’t be easy, though.”
In-form jockey Benny Woodworth does all the hard yards on My Dreamliner at trackwork, but will again step aside to allow a rookie to take the ride for the second time.
“The horse is very well. I feel he’s improved from his last start,” said Woodworth.
“However, he’s running against much more experienced horses this time. I would say he needs to improve from the last run to beat those.”
Regarded as one of the most successful jockeys to have donned comeback owner Tang Weng Fei’s Hydrocarbon silks of red and blue diamonds, Woodworth said he was glad to reunite with the old firm, even if it has yet to occur in a race yet.
“Mr Tang and I go back a long way. I’ve ridden many winners for him, most notably, Phenom and Key Emperor,” he said.
“It’s very good to have him back as he’s always been a big supporter of our racing.”
The oil trader was once a leading owner on both sides of the Causeway before linking up with Thomas Loke to form the Jupiter Stable with whom they enjoyed numerous successes at Kranji, none bigger than Better Than Ever and Singapore champion three-year-old Given Vision.
“Weng Fei was busy with his business and slowly cut back on his racing interests, but I spoke with him and he was keen to make a comeback last year,” said Young.
Well known in sporting circles as a former national hurdler and now the President of Singapore Athletics, Tang has thus far sent two horses to Young (whom he knew during his time working for Charles Leck and Desmond Koh), My Dreamliner and Mon Energy, both of whom are undefeated at their only one outing each.
“It’s 100% strike rate with Weng Fei so far. Hopefully, it stays that way this Friday,” said Young.