Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
When the guys who pay the bills tell you the horse is no good, and that even the reset button would be a waste of time, the only option left is to part ways.
In Singapore, such horses deemed over the hill or who haven’t earned their oats, usually board a float to Malaysia where a second racing career beckons – and very often turns out to be successful, at least, more successful.
Like many trainers who have to deal with that ugly reality of racing, Jason Lim has been there done that, but when Mr Ang of Crystal Dragon No 2 Stable said he had all but “given up” on Crystal Warrior, the horseman in the Australian-trained Singaporean trainer was in a bind, but mostly reluctant to throw in the towel on a horse who has had only half a dozen starts.
On one hand, not many trainers dare go against the people who are behind their very own livelihood, but Lim had a deep conviction the owner had jumped the gun.
Summoning up all of his PR skills, the fourth-year trainer managed to dissuade Mr Ang from dropping the axe on the one horse they had pinned so much hope on when they brought him over from Australia.
Lim was taking a punt on the Australian-Group-placed I Am Invincible four-year-old, a two-time winner as I Am Swerving for Team Hawkes in Sydney and later Bryan and Daniel Guy in Brisbane, but luckily, he didn’t have to eat his words.
After six ordinary Kranji starts that featured one debut third as the only silver lining, Crystal Warrior has slammed in two wins, one after another, the latest coming in Saturday’s last race, the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over the Polytrack 1200m when he gave his adversaries a three-length pummelling that could have been more punishing had Manoel Nunes (who was also aboard at the previous win) not switched off the engine 50m out.
“The owner Mr Ang told me to sell him after he had a bleeding attack. He was supposed to go to Malaysia,” said Lim, recounting that episode when all seemed lost after Crystal Warrior bled at his sixth Kranji start back in September.
“I can understand why the owner was so upset as he thought he had bought a very good horse. I was upset with myself, too, as this was a youngster who was Group-placed (third in Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes in 2020).
“Initially, things looked good after he won his two barrier trials by many lengths. Even his first start in a Class 4 race (1100m) was encouraging, he ran third.
“But I just couldn’t figure out why his next runs were bad. I gave him a break, but it didn’t work, and when the owner thought of giving up on the horse, I still persuaded him to give him one last chance.
“Something told me we should stick with him. I took a leap of faith, and went back to the drawing board again, meaning I had to reset the button twice.
“When Nunes came back this year, I tried to get him on board early so he gets to work on this horse. I didn’t really have much to do with him when he rode here some years back as he didn’t ride a lot for David Hill (Lim’s former boss), but we all know his great horsemanship, and I felt he’d be a key partner for a horse like Crystal Warrior.
“After he trialled him, he told me he was a very nice horse, but that I had to change his gear. He said we should take off the blinkers and tongue-tie, and put a shadow roll and a snaffle bit instead.”
Lim admitted he was a little taken aback by the choice of equipment, but it soon dawned on him the three-time Singapore champion jockey knew his onions, especially on Saturday, from the way the bay gelding comfortably led from the start and pinned his ears back when Nunes dug him up for that smart dash to the line.
Unsurprisingly, Lim wanted to share the credit with Nunes, whom he said played more than a bit part in the penny dropping at that win-or-bust mission.
“The horse trialled very well, especially at the second one (won by four lengths). First-up, he ran a very nice sixth, and we thought he’d run very well second-up, but he won,” he said.
“He won again last Saturday, even though his handicap was up by three kilos, and he was up against a strong field. We were expecting a good run, but didn’t expect him to kick clear the way he did, and Nunes was very impressed, too.
“The horse was a bit light-framed last time, we have also changed his feed and put a lot of work in him. He’s never looked that well.
“Nunes has clearly done a very good job with Crystal Warrior. He also helps us lot at the stable, and we work quite closely together.”
Another horse of Lim’s that Nunes has spent some time on is Boy Xander, the Shamexpress debut winner named after Lim’s son Alexander, but who has not raced since, and is due for his impending racing comeback after more than a year off.
“Nunes will ride Boy Xander this week. He rides this horse even in his slow work,” said Lim.
Now that Crystal Warrior seems to have regained his Australian form, Lim said he would have to be mindful about his future endeavours, even if one could easily get carried away by Saturday’s romp.
“He took eight points from the win, which was half-expected,” he said.
“He’ll probably head to a Class 3 race next. I hope he can measure up, but I’ll try and space his runs, I won’t rush him.”
On the other hand, Lim is hoping Crystal Warrior’s resurgence will give Mr Ang the rub of the green with his two other horses, Crystal Dragon and Crystal Sixty.
Crystal Dragon was Mr Ang’s maiden purchase, but the Jimmy Creed five-year-old has not quite set Kranji on fire other than a second-up win in Restricted Maiden company two years ago.
As for Crystal Sixty, a one-time winner at Terang in country Victoria, he has been disappointing in four starts thus far, but Lim doesn’t despair for the Exceed And Excel five-year-old to spark up one day.
Another “Crystal” sparkling in all its splendour at the winner’s circle would be great, even if Lim harbours one huge regret – the owner never had a chance to pop the bubbly at the Champagne Room.
“It’s good for the owner as that win will bring his confidence back. Mr Ang and his partners are great people, they just want the prestige of winning races,” said Lim.
“They’ve now won three races, but sadly, they never got a chance to lead in a winner. When their first winner Crystal Dragon won, it was on the first day (March 27, 2020) the races were closed to the public!
“Yes, he watched his horses win on TV, but it’s not quite the same ambience, is it? He’s still very supportive and hopefully, he’ll be allowed back at the races soon.
“Now that Crystal Warrior has brought the smiles back, he may buy more horses in the near future, but I hope his two other horses can win, too.
“Crystal Dragon came out and won at his second start, he hasn’t raced for a while, and Nunes has been working and trialling him, too.
“Fingers crossed, he goes all right, and the same thing for Crystal Sixty, who had tendon issues and is back in training.”
