3 minute read

He's one of the most recognisable faces around the Singapore Turf Club and on Friday night Shane Baertschiger will step out from the shadow of his father Don when he saddles his first runner under his own name.

The longtime assistant to his father Don takes over the reins – and the headaches – when he saddles six runners on Friday night's 10 race card.

And he'll be hoping to get an early winner on the board when Robert E lines-up in the opening race – the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1200m.

Baertschiger junior landed a perfect 39th birthday present last week when he was informed by the Club that he had been granted stables and the wheels were quickly put in motion for the transfer of horses from Don's name to his.

The result is six runners on Friday night and a further five on Sunday.

Baertschiger followed his father from Melbourne in 1993, starting out in Kuala Lumpur before settling at the old Bukit Timah course for a “couple of months” in 1999 before migrating to Kranji.

“I came up here when I was 20 and I've just turned 39,” said Baertschiger.

“I worked with the old man back home before he came up here and did a stint as foreman for John Hawkes at Epsom.

“When Hawksey shifted to Sydney I decided to come up this way and work with the old man.

“I started out as a syce, moved to stable supervisor and have been his assistant trainer since we moved permanently to Singapore in 1999.

“Training is always something that I've wanted to do and I've had a good teacher along the way.”

Baertschiger said now that he was the "boss” he would change a few things, in time, but would pretty much follow Don's methods.

“I've been trained a certain way and most of that will stay the same,” said Baertschiger.

“I'll probably go and change a few things over time. We'll experiment with a few little things but generally most of the things will stay the same.”

The shift from one Baertschiger to another has been pretty straight forward and Shane will have a large string of horses to work with right from day one.

“I've got 60 horses on the books,” said Baertschiger.

“So far it has been a pretty straight forward transition.

“All of the owners in the stable have stayed and I must say a big thank-you to all of them for their support.”

Baertschiger will be hoping that Robert E can give him the perfect start and provide long-time client of the stable – Auric Stable – with a victory on his first night.

“He goes into the race fit and in form and importantly this time he has drawn a good barrier,” said Baertschiger.

“He's run second at his last two starts from wide draws but this time he's drawn the inside and won't have to work as hard.”

Baertschiger said he hopes the successful partnership with jockey John Powell will continue into the future.

“I've got a good working relationship with John and I'll keep putting him on as long as he's here,” said Baertschiger.

“Jacky (Low) is a good back-up and I must say all the staff that we have here are great.

“I'm really looking forward to this new stage of my career.”