Trainer Stephen Gray strongly believed that the mile is right up their alley for Arya Pakuan and February in the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Between the two, February was already a proven quantity over the mile after he opened his account in a Restricted Maiden race (1600m) on the turf three weeks ago, while Arya Pakuan, a one-time winner over the 1200m, will be stepping into uncharted territory in the third Leg of the reinstated Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge this year.
Despite that, the New Zealand handler did put words out there that the son of Sebring can get the mile after he ran home strongly to finish third to stablemate Bransom at his debut in a Restricted Maiden race (1200m) on February 25 this year.
His subsequent two runs over the same trip were more by circumstance than by choice, albeit he still won over six furlongs at his third start on April 1. A month later, Arya Pakuan ran unplaced in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), but Gray said that he had excuses at his last-start ninth to Coin Toss.
“He had no luck because he drew wide (barrier 14) and he was knocked over badly at the start by the horse on his inside (Flying Nemo),” said Gray of the Dago Stable-owned gelding, who will race without blinkers this time.
“That took him out of the race. We had no chance, but he still ran home quite nicely. It was a non-event, really.
“An inside gate would be better but he’s got barrier eight. Anyway, he’d get the mile easy. He ran over 1200m previously because we had no choice, but he’s definitely looking for 1600m.
“Nunes galloped with him on the turf on Tuesday morning and he stays on for the Guineas.”
While a progression onto the third Leg seemed a natural one for Arya Pakuan, February was a fresh nomination in the 3YO series, to which Gray said he would have nominated February even if he remained winless.
“I would still have ran him in the Guineas even if he was still a maiden because the mile is easy for him. It’s only whether he’s got the ability to beat the other three-year-olds,” said Gray, who has won the last two Legs of the 3YO series with Given Vision in 2009.
“He did not beat a strong field at his last start but he probably should have won at any one of his starts before that.
“We rode him forward on the 1400m two starts ago (on April 23 where he ran sixth to fellow Guineas runner Maximum Control), which was the wrong thing to do.
“The other day (May 6), he was ridden quiet and won. He’s a good staying type of horse. 2000m would be outstanding for him but the mile is still good.
“The barrier doesn’t matter (11) because he’ll find the speed. He’s got good stamina and a high action.
“Any rain will be a big help. If we have a typical Singapore downpour, he’ll outstay them because he’s a real staying horse. But if it’s a fast-run race, he’d be running home late.
“I probably like Nunes’ horse better but February is a lovely horse who will be a real (Singapore) Derby, (Singapore) Gold Cup kind of horse.”
The son of Sacred Falls brought up visiting jockey Daniel Moor’s first win in Singapore this year at his last-start win, but the Australian hoop has opted to stick with the Michael Clements-trained Coin Toss, whom he partnered to win in the second Leg of the 3YO series.
The owners from the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable have now invited New Zealand jockey Craig Grylls back to Singapore for the ride on February. Grylls took home 44 wins at his one-and-a-half-year stint at Kranji in 2017 and 2018, when he also won on Al Green for Gray on January 21, 2018.
“(Jockey) Marc (Lerner) is suspended this week, so the owners brought in Craig,” he said.
“He’s a good rider. We knew Craig and his family well and it’s good to get someone who knows the racing here.”
A day after the Kranji meeting, Grylls will also fly up north to Kuala Lumpur to ride the Richard Lines-trained Sincerely for the same Thai owners in the RM150,000 Group 1 Equine Sanctuary Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) at the Selangor Turf Club.
Overall, Gray was not only happy with his two chances, but also the revival of the Singapore Guineas, a feature race that was last ran in 2020 and won by Inferno.
“I’m pretty happy to have two good chances in the Guineas for two big supporters because they will get the distance but some of the others won’t. You’re also running against your own age,” said Gray.
“Coin Toss won well (in the Singapore 3YO Classic), January ran a nice race and a couple of them also got to the line quite strong.
“We’ve not had the Guineas for the past two years and given the circumstances we’ve been in the last few years; I think it’s a pretty quality field. It shows that there are still interest in racing.
“It’s important that the (Singapore Turf) Club has these feature races and good prizemoney to run the owners’ horses in. That’s what owners strive for, otherwise you don’t get investments.”
A field of 11 will line up in the Singapore Guineas, including the winners of the first two Legs of the 3YO series, Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) winner January and Coin Toss.
Among them, the only other contender to have won over the mile was the Michael Clements-trained Pacific Star. He won over this trip in a Class 4 race last Sunday.
By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
