By Larry Foley
Trainer Tan Kah Soon reckoned Nowyousee can jump back into the winner’s circle in Saturday’s $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on the Polytrack.
The eight-year-old son of O’Reilly has won seven times in 49 starts that kicked off with a debut victory back in October 2017.
But since transferring to Tan in April 2019 (albeit off a very restrictive rating of 93), he had only one solitary win to show for his efforts in 37 starts.
That win was at Group 3 level – the New Year Cup over 1200m on the Polytrack at the kickoff meeting in 2020 – but the fact that he has placed 15 times under Tan’s care, including a third behind Inferno at the 2020 Group 1 Lion City Cup, showed that his winless drought was not through lack of trying.
Nowyousee comes into Saturday’s race after a third crack at the Lion City Cup on August 14 where he ran seventh, but two Polytrack placings prior – both at Class 3 level – has him right in the winning mix if things go his way.
“He’s come out of the Lion City (Cup) in good form,” said Tan on Tuesday.
“It was a good run coming from that draw (barrier 15) – the last 600m was pleasing – no choice but to race back in that top field from that gate.
“That race had been good to him. He placed behind Inferno in 2020 and wasn’t far away in fifth behind Lim’s Lightning in 2021, which shows his honesty.”
Tan would like a good draw for Saturday but thinks Nowyousee will have every chance regardless.
“(Jockey) Marc Lerner is back on (Ronnie Stewart rode him in the Lion City Cup) and he knows the horse well,” said the son of former Penang-based trainer, Dr Tan Swee Hock.
“I don’t think the heavy rain helped him at his last start on the Polytrack (July 24) – it seemed to suit the on-pace runners – and he did very well to place on that occasion after a tough run.
“We went back from the wide gate (barrier 12) the start before (June 18) when he ran on very well late to run third, so if we get a good barrier on Wednesday, he should go close.”
Going forward, Tan suggests there are more strings to Nowyousee’s bow.
“He’s getting older and may need further,” said Tan, who was one of the first graduates of the Darley (now Godolphin) Flying Start programme in 2004.
“He wasn’t disgraced in the (Group 1) Kranji Mile (where he finished sixth) behind Minister last year and while we didn’t go there this year, that type of distance – or even 1700m on the Polytrack – could be what he is after.
“Obviously he’s honest and I think both he and (seven-year-old) Gold Strike – a couple of my older horses – have appreciated the new Polytrack surface (it was re-laid in May this year), which is great as they both have plenty more to offer.
“And you have to remember, Nowyousee was a high performer as a two-year-old with (Trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) and to be in such a good state mentally and racing so well as an eight-year-old; that says a lot about the horse.
“He has patient owners (Titanium Racing Stable) too, so hopefully he can win again for them.”
Tan has three other horses nominated for Saturday and suggests that Zygarde is another honest galloper worth following in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m on the Polytrack.
“He has always been a big baby,” said Tan of the New Zealand-bred six-year-old.
“Look at him now! He was the same size as a three-year-old but he has finally matured mentally. Last time, he needed a lead pony to take him out to the track, now he leads them out.
“He hasn’t ran a bad race since April this year. He’s turned into a very honest horse.
“His win back in May was in Class 5 but he had been good in Class 4 since and with (jockey) Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) riding on Saturday, he can play a part.”
