By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Ricardo Le Grange ended 2022 with the time-honoured Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup on his mantelpiece and with 17 horses declared for the season opener this Saturday, he wants to keep the winning momentum going in 2023.
Though Le Grange saddled two other winners (King Louis and Hole In One) at the last meeting of the season, Hongkong Great’s Singapore Gold Cup win on November 19 was the icing on the cake that capped off a successful year for the South African conditioner.
36 winners at a healthy strike rate of 13.28% saw Le Grange finished in fourth place on the trainers’ premiership and with strong chances in 11 races on Saturday (bar Race 7 where he has no runners), a winning start to the year is on the cards.
“It was a great year for the stable,” reflected Le Grange on Thursday.
“The horses all ran well. Happy team, happy owners and to finish off with a win in the Singapore Gold Cup with Hongkong Great was awesome. Unbelievable, really.
“I think we can take some of that winning form into this season and it all starts again on Saturday.”
The numbers suggest he could. While Sayonara and Zoffspeed are listed as Emergency Acceptors no. 1 and no. 3, respectively, in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1600m, most other runners look like good chances in a competitive day of racing on the Polytrack.
“I’ve always had plenty of entries early in the season and it’s no different this year,” continued Le Grange.
“The staff and the horses have all enjoyed their break and are raring to go. We don’t mind the Polytrack racing either, so it’s good to get plenty of horses to suitable races early in the season.”
Le Grange suggested that relative newcomer Bestseller looks well placed to open his account in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race (1100m) while an older campaigner, Leatherhead, is ready to get back into the winner’s circle in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m.
“I have a good opinion of Bestseller,” he said.
“He’s by an American sire (Dream Ahead) so he will suit the Polytrack and after two tough but good runs on the grass, he is ready to show his best with (jockey) Vlad (Duric) riding.
“Italian Revolution is the one to beat and a couple of the others will be very competitive, but hopefully Bestseller can show his best on Saturday.
“I think Leatherhead also looks a strong chance. (Jockey) Manoel (Nunes) will ride him as Vlad was booked elsewhere. He’s in the right race and has drawn the right gate (two), so he should be there at the finish.”
Apart from Bestseller, Duric has four other good rides for Le Grange with the smart and versatile Rocket Star lined up in the highlight race of the day – the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1100m – with a view to bigger and better races this year.
“He’s (Rocket Star) going super,” enthused Le Grange.
“It’s a very strong race and Lucky Jinsha is hard to beat but this guy (Rocket Star) handles the Polytrack and I couldn’t be happier with how he is going at the track.
“I think he will be better again over 1200m this preparation so the (Group 3) Merlion Trophy (on February 4) is obviously a target, but looking forward, we will set him for the (Group 1) Kranji Mile (on May 20).
“He was in the winning mix in that race last year (finished half-a-length in third behind Minister) and on his day, he can win a race like that.”
Elsewhere on the all Polytrack 12-race meeting, Le Grange is hoping that a “non-equine” new addition to his stable – apprentice jockey Rozlan Nazam – could also hit the ground running in 2023.
“Yes, Rozlan has moved from Jason (Ong) and has been with us for a few weeks now,” he explained.
“He has a lovely work ethic, is a nice guy and he’s been in the system long enough to know what he’s doing. I would love to give him his first winner and we have enough entries this week to get him on some solid rides.
“I think he and his (four kilos) claim will suit Rocketship (in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1000m) as he can lead from the wide gate and give a sight.
“City Hall (in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1200m) also looks some hope with no weight in the right race. Malibu Beach (in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m) is a tricky horse but if he’s (Malibu Beach) in a good mood, he can go okay.”
Looking forward, Le Grange is excited to get some of his new stock to the barrier trials and races but his two stars – Hongkong Great and Katak – are the horses he was most keen to talk about.
“Hongkong Great is enjoying a nice break and he will be back in full work in February with the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (1600m) in March (25) and the Kranji Mile in May (20) as his targets,” he said.
“Katak will follow the same path. He had fetlock chips removed last year but is looking great – moving really well – so I couldn’t be happier with the pair of them.
“Also with some new stocks on hand, we are really looking forward to the new season.”
