TRACKNOTES – MONDAY 12 MAY 2014 From only two overseas runners, the numbers have suddenly swelled to nine who knuckled down to some form of exercise around the Kranji training tracks on Monday morning. The seven Saturday arrivals, namely the Hong Kong quartet made up of last year’s winners MILITARY ATTACK (Singapore Airlines International Cup) and LUCKY NINE (KrisFlyer International Sprint) as well as DAN EXCEL and STERLING CITY, along with the three Europeans, SIDE GLANCE, MULL OF KILLOUGH and SMOKING SUN, all joined early birds SI SAGE and LIMARIO for some light workout. Sprinting duo MEDICEAN MAN (UK) and BALMONT MAST (Ireland) stayed in their box having just landed a couple of hours earlier. As for the locals, most were also put through their paces, and though they did not do anything spectacular, they all looked fit and ready, as did Patrick Shaw’s KrisFlyer raider SLEW OF LODE who went a little bit quicker than the others at his Polytrack outing. SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP Dan Excel & Military Attack (HK) – John Moore Both were trotted over 500m and then cantered for 1 ½ laps (about 2200m) on the Polytrack. “So far so good,” said John Moore’s son George, who is overseeing the preparations until his father’s arrival on Tuesday and also doubles up as Sterling City’s track rider. “It’s their first day, they’re eating well and everything’s gone ok.” “Both of them (Dan Excel and Military Attack) have settled much better than last year so that’s good. Military Attack has gone to Singapore and Dubai in the past 12 months so he’s used to the travelling.” Moore instructed his staff to hose down all three horses after they returned to the stables following their morning workout before they were hand-walked for about 15 minutes around the sand area at the stables compound. “It’s the humidity,” he explained. “Last year one of our horses was low on potassium because of the heat and so we’ve learnt from that and try to cool them down after they’ve done their work in the morning.” Johnny Guitar (SIA Cup) & Slew Of Lode (KrisFlyer) (SG) – Patrick Shaw Both cantered on the Polytrack with Johnny Guitar going over two laps and Slew Of Lode going over one lap and working home the last 600m in 40.2 seconds. Jockey Barend Vorster rode both. “I’m happy with both horses. They just did an easy canter on the Poly and both worked well,” said Shaw. “Johnny Guitar galloped on Friday, and will gallop again on Wednesday, and so will Slew Of Lode. “The fields are very strong. It will be a big test for both of them, especially Slew Of Lode who is on 88 points, but they will give it their best shot.” Limario (UAE) – Doug Watson Given an easy walk of 1 ¼ miles (2000m) on the Polytrack by work rider Martin Pearson. “It was an easy walk, the same as yesterday,” said work rider Martin Pearson. “We’ll do more of the same tomorrow as well. He’ll probably do some faster work, maybe go for a gallop, on Wednesday when Doug gets in. “Other than that, everything’s going well. He’s looking fresh and physically in good condition. He’s been eating well and we’re very happy with him.” Mull Of Killough (UK) – Jane Chapple-Hyam Cantered on Track No 4 up and down under track rider Abigail Harrsion. “He travelled good and has settled in well. All’s good,” said travelling foreman cum track rider Abigail Harrsion. “Jane gets in tomorrow and she should be at the track on Wednesday.” Side Glance (UK) – Andrew Balding Cantered on Track No 4 up and down under track rider Leanne Masterton. “He had an easy time on the Polytrack (Track 2) yesterday and this morning, he did one circuit on the uphill Polytrack (Track 4), coming back up at a steady canter,” said Leanne Masterton. “He’s a very athletic sort and we’re very happy with him. He showed great form at home and has come here fresh. “He’s well-travelled and he’s taken this trip very well even if he lost 12 kilos on the way here but he’s already put five kilos back on. “We’ll probably give him a nice blow on Thursday. In Australia, we probably backed him up too quickly and he was a little gassy in the Cox Plate, but he was a lot more relaxed in the Mackinnon Stakes and won.” Si Sage (USA) – Darrell Vienna Easy canter over one lap on the turf (Track No 1) with race-rider David Flores in the saddle. “He’s settled in well and has done the same he’s been doing since he came here last week,” said Chris Vienna, son of the Santa Anita-based trainer. “Today, he just had an easy canter over 1000m and we’ll give him fast work tomorrow. “He was first to arrive and it’s worked out good for us as this will give him more time to settle in. We had other options where we could have got him here later but he would have gone through another itinerary where he could have waited for a long time on the ground. “When we got him from France, it was a bit of a rushed preparation, and we didn’t know him that well. It’s always hard when you have all deadlines, but it’s all good now.” Kranji-based US jockey David Flores, who has been pulling double-shift duty (starts at 5am and then back at work for the locals at 6am), gave the thumbs-up after Si Sage’s workout. “Nice and easy, just canter and back to the wire today. He’ll have one run tomorrow,” said Flores. “He’s light on his mouth and when I restrained him he threw his head up a bit last Saturday. But he’s okay now after I’ve got to know him better and what’s up with him.” Smoking Sun (FRA) – Pascal Bary Light canter on the Polytrack under track rider Patrick Lemagny. “I thought he would be a bit stiff this morning, but he was perfect,” said exercise rider Patrick Lemagny. “He was looking around a bit as this is all new to him, but he was fine. The lights didn’t bother him at all. “It was his first time travelling over such a long distance, but he seems to have taken it very well. “We speak with Pascal every day on the phone. He will tell us what to do with the horse.” Tropaios (SG) – Michael Freedman Cantered on Track No 6. “He galloped on Saturday morning and he just cantered at the back today as is his normal Monday routine,” said trainer Michael Freedman. “He’ll do fast work on Wednesday on the same track (Track 6) and that will be it. He’s a gross kind of horse and I will just keep his fitness up and ticking over till raceday.” Wild Geese (SG) – Steven Burridge One lap of pacework on the sand track (Track No 3) with regular working partner, senior track rider Mick Lockett aboard. “He’s nice and bright. He has pulled up in good order since his QEII (Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup) win,” said trainer Steven Burridge. “I will give him a gallop either tomorrow on Wednesday. All’s good mate, Sir Michael Lockett is happy, I’m happy!” KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT Balmont Mast (IRE) – Edward Lynam Just arrived on Monday morning. Did not come out for trackwork. Captain Obvious & El Padrino (SG) – Alwin Tan Light work for both runners who were sent out for 1000m on Track No 4. El Padrino was ridden by KrisFlyer jockey Danny Beasley while Captain Obvious was ridden by trainer Alwin Tan’s track rider. KrisFlyer jockey Oscar Chavez will take over from tomorrow. “They did some light exercise today,” said trainer Alwin Tan. “They will go for a gallop on Wednesday and I’ll see how they pull up and decide if they need anything else but I don’t really think so. “They’re both fit and I’m just looking to keep them fresh for the big race on Sunday. It’s only a short distance of 1200m after all. “Danny worked with El Padrino this morning and he told me he was very happy with him. My track rider took Captain Obvious out today and Oscar will take over from tomorrow onwards. “Their preparations have been going well and they’re coming along nicely. I’m very happy with them. Both of them will go for some light work, probably 1000m, again tomorrow and also a swim.” Emperor Max (SG) – Stephen Gray Cantered with jockey Lisa Allpress for one lap on the Polytrack. “He went for a quiet canter with Lisa today,” said trainer Stephen Gray. “He’ll have a gallop tomorrow and that’ll be it. Everything’s going well. He was a bit tired after his last race but he’s really perked up now. “He’s really fit and we don’t really have to do too much with him from now till the race. It’s going to be mostly quiet from now, he’s not going to do anything too heavy.” Goal Keeper (SG) – Theo Kieser Cantered over one lap of the Polytrack. “I really liked the way he looked today. He was bouncing around after his work,” said trainer Theo Kieser. “He’ll trot and swim tomorrow, will have his final gallop on Wednesday, either on Polytrack or on Track 6, and he will then swim all the way to the race. He’s pretty fit and doesn’t need much.” Lucky Nine (HK) – Caspar Fownes The defending champion was the first horse out at 5am. Workout lasted 15 minutes and consisted of a canter on Track 2 with work rider Richard So. “He’s eating well and no problems with his work today. We went for a canter on Track No 2. Yesterday we had a canter on Track 4,” said track rider Richard So. “I wasn’t here last year with him so I can’t tell you if he’s settled any better this year but he’s a horse that likes to travel (besides last year’s appearance in Kranji, the Irish-bred Lucky Nine has competed in Australia, Dubai and Japan) and we’re very happy with him.” Medicean Man (UK) – Jeremy Gask Just arrived on Monday morning. Did not come out for trackwork. Sterling City (HK) – John Moore Same workout as his two stablemates Dan Excel and Military Attack. Was trotted over 500m and then cantered for 1 ½ laps (about 2200m) on the Polytrack. “The other two have been here last year. It’s a bit new for Sterling City who’s never been here before and these are new surroundings for him,” said John Moore’s son George. “But it’s only the first day and he’s settled quite nicely.” Zac Spirit (SG) – Cliff Brown Cantered up the uphill track. “He’s in good shape. He just went up the uphill track and tomorrow, he’ll have a swim,” said trainer Cliff Brown. “Then he will gallop on Wednesday on the Polytrack and that will be pretty much done until raceday.”
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 10:03:37 +0000