By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Jason Ong is hoping that his last-start winner Engine Start is still firing on all cylinders and can make it back-to-back wins in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m on Saturday.
Engine Start spluttered into life when he narrowly broke his maiden status in Class 5 company over 1600m on October 8 and that maiden win was well-documented given that the four-year-old had been in the limelight for the wrong reasons at his previous two runs.
The horse was sensationally disqualified after his rider – apprentice Hakim Kamaruddin – weighed in 5.2 kgs light because he dropped his saddle bag in the race on August 21, before the Kelantan-born rider got a two-month suspension at his next start for failing to ride Engine Start to the satisfaction of the stewards on September 10 when they ran fourth.
At his ninth start, the traffic early in the straight almost cost him that overdue maiden win, but under hard riding from jockey Manoel Nunes, he finally got the job done for patient connections by piping Sun Ace in the shadows of the post.
A jump in grade and up against some in-form and handy Class 4 milers will be a test, but Ong thinks that there are some upsides to the Australian-bred gelding – especially with only 50.5kgs to carry.
“It’s a good race but with such a light weight, I think he (Engine Start) would go well,” said Ong from the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale in Australia.
“He’s holding his form and has been working well for (apprentice jockey) Zy (Zyrul Nor Azman). He knows the horse well so he will ride him on Saturday.
“I thought he (Engine Start) was impressive winning at his last start. He had excuses but was strong to the wire.
“Zy will ride him where comfortable and the mile suits, so we expect him to be strong late again and can get the job done.”
Surrey Hills, who runs in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1000m, will also garner a lot of interest.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old made an impression after he won comfortably by two-and-three-quarter lengths at his race debut on April 9 but was very untractable when he finished a disappointing sixth in Novice company on May 21.
However, there was a reason for that poor run and Ong thinks he can show his best first-up on Saturday.
“He’s a nice horse and I have a good opinion of him,” continued Ong.
“We probably pushed him a little to get to the three-year-old feature (races) and he went shin sore in that Novice race.
“That’s why he hung out and didn’t finish off. We’ve given him a nice spell and nursed him back slowly.
“He’s a strong-willed horse so he pushes himself at the track. We have taken our time to get him back to the races but I’m really happy with his preparation.”
Two recent good trials – he won his most recent (trial no. 3) on October 20 – suggests the Sweynesse gelding is good to go and looks well placed with just 53.5kgs in a fairly even Class 4 field.
“His two trials have been nice enough. (Jockey) Jake (Bayliss) was happy with him so this race looks suitable,” said the Singaporean handler.
“He’s a developing horse too, so he will improve with racing.”
Of the Magic Millions sale – where local owners and trainers were very active in – Ong was happy with his purchase; a colt by the stallion Your Song.
“I got in early at a good price, which was lucky given the sale got really strong late,” he explained.
“He breezed up well, looked like an athletic type but has some growing to do, so he will be perfect for Singapore in six months or so.”
Ong – who is the leading local trainer in Singapore in 2022 (but sits fifth overall with 32 winners) – is hoping for a strong finish to the season, with one eye on So Hi Class; his sneaky chance in the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 19.
“I was really happy with the way he (So Hi Class) hit the line in the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m),” he said.
“I think he has matured. He can stay and will only get a light weight, so hopefully he has a chance.”
