By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Everyone in racing loves a good omen and in a week where the United Kingdom crowns a new monarch – King Charles III – Singapore’s most improved horse – King Arthur – is hoping to continue his royal run of form in Saturday’s $100,000 Class 1 race over 1100m on the Polytrack.
Remarkably, the now five-year-old started this season off a rating of 62 when he won in Class 4 Company on January 2, before being narrowly beaten (0.8 lengths) at his last start in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m). Then, his rating increased to 102.
That ascent to the top echelon of the Singapore sprinting ranks in one calendar year included another five wins and a couple of placings. Trainer Donna Logan reckons the honest King Arthur has more to offer before the 2022 season comes to a close.
A model of consistency, King Arthur (Yusoff Fadzli) will line up in the Class 1 race over 1100m on Saturday.
“We thought he was a progressive type back when he was running in Class 4 company but he’s definitely shown he’s much more than that,” said Logan on Tuesday.
“His first six wins were on the Poly(track) but he really hit his straps at the top level when we got him going on the turf.”
Indeed, since his last Polytrack win in a Class 3 race on May 8, the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable star has shown his class at the top level with three exceptional turf runs; two wins at Class 2 and Class 1 company on 18 June and 17 July respectively, and his second placing at Group 1 level on August 14.
This Saturday, he meets a field that includes the resuming Lucky Jinsha – who incidentally won in Class 3 company on the Polytrack (April 2) when King Arthur missed a place (fourth) for the only time in 2022 – so it will be a serious test for the son of I Am Invincible.
“There’s not many races for him coming up so this will be a real pipe-opener fresh after the Lion City (Cup),” explained Logan.
“He’s always trying and he’s super honest but he’s not 100% wound up for this. So whatever happens, this race will bring him on immensely.
“There’s a turf race on October 2 (Class 1 race over 1200m) and that’s where he’s headed.
“He’s up in the weights now (59kgs on Saturday) so (apprentice jockey) Yusoff (Fadzli) will claim 2kgs off him and a lot will depend on the barrier draw (on Wednesday). But he will give his best; he always does.”
And what of that ‘oh-so-close’ run in the Lion City Cup?
“I really expected him to be right in the money in that race,” continued Logan of what would have been a remarkable victory at Group 1 Weight-For-Age level given King Arthur’s swift rise through the grades.
“Maybe if (jockey) Blake (Shinn) had ridden him before he may have gone a fraction later but it’s hard to fault him (Shinn). The winner (Lim’s Kosciuszko) is a top horse and we almost pinched it.
“He (King Arthur) will get another chance next year – we are already preparing and looking forward to it – and hopefully he can go one better.”
Logan – who is enjoying a breakout season in Singapore and currently sits just two wins behind leader Tim Fitzsimmons (47 wins) on the 2022 trainers’ premiership – has another nine horses entered for Saturday but also has one eye on turf racing returning the following week.
“A lot of our horses seem to prefer the turf so we can’t wait for the 24th (September), but in saying that, we have some solid chances on Saturday,” she said.
“Briggs (running in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1000m) is an interesting runner.
“He’s been here just over a year but got an injury very early when he was with (ex-Kranji trainer) Mark (Walker). So it’s good to see him get to the races.
“He’s a nice, strong and big striding type, so (jockey) Jake (Bayliss) will ride him and he should be thereabouts.”
Of the trainers’ title race, Logan had other things on her mind but was happy to be in the conversation.
“Look, I’m rapt for the team as they put in the work and its just rewards for them,” said the only female trainer plying her trade at Kranji.
“But if it happens, it happens and I’m not living day-to-day thinking about it.
“At the end of the day, it may be whoever gets some fresh legs in their stable before the season finishes and we just continue doing our job.”
