Trainer Jason Ong hoped that the King Power Stable-owned Akhtar can win on his Singapore debut in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1100m this Saturday after Cavalry won in the same colours three days ago.
On Saturday, the much-touted Cavalry made his Kranji debut for trainer Michael Clements and won comfortably by one-and-three-quarter lengths at Class 3 level over 1400m. The Taupo Cup (2000m) winner (when known as Tutukaka) and half-brother to Kiwi champion mare Melody Belle has since been aimed at a second-up run in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 23.
Akhtar, on the other hand, arrived with less fanfare than Cavalry. The four-year-old horse by I Am Invincible was a one-time winner (1400m) from Australia when trained by British handler Annabel Neasham, but since his last run 15 months ago in March last year, Akhtar had been a work in progress for all concerned.
While he had been a handful at the stables that has tested both Ong and his staff on more than one occasion, Ong said that he was fit and ready to win on his Singapore debut.
“He’s been hard work, but he’s ready to go well this Saturday,” said the Singaporean conditioner on Tuesday.
“The horse came to me unraced for quite some time and as a colt, he was hard to handle and it took him a while to acclimatise to the conditions in Singapore.
“He also had some small issues, which we have fixed. One of them was his barrier manners, but (starter) John Pepe and I have done a lot of work with him and he has definitely settled down now.
“He (Akhtar) was a little slow to jump at his recent trial (finished first in trial no. 2 on July 6 in the time of 1 min 0.3secs) but (jockey) (Manoel) Nunes got him going quickly and I was really happy with his trial.
“It is also important that Nunes rides him on Saturday as he knew the horse well. We’d have to expect that Akhtar will get excited on race day – it will be a different atmosphere – so we will be on high alert before the race.
“We’ve done all we can. He’s fit and ready so hopefully, he can win for his Thai owners.”
Fans might not recall but Ong had trained for the King Power stable before. Mare Sweet Tapit ran unplaced for him at her first race in 2021 before being transferred to ex-Kranji trainer Mark Walker and then to Richard Lines in Malaysia, albeit failing to get off the mark in 12 starts in her career.
Ong was happy to be training again for the international powerhouse who has horse racing operations all over the world and thought Akhtar had plenty to offer.
“I had trained for them before, but Akhtar is the first in a long while,” explained Ong, who has chalked up 25 winners thus far to sit third on the trainers’ premiership.
“I got a call from them to train Akhtar and was very happy to have a horse of theirs in my stable. I would love to win one early for them and I think he has a bright future.
“Given the problems we had getting him to the races, I have trained him as a sprinter. But he won for Annabel over 1400m, so he will definitely get over more ground.
“We will reassess him after each run, but at this stage, it’s baby steps as we watch him under race conditions. Hopefully he draws well and we will leave the rest to Nunes on the day.”
Ong – who nominated eight runners on Saturday – thought that Akhtar was his best chance but he also hoped that his steady run of winners lately can continue with Roda Robot in the $20,000 Open Maiden race (1200m) and Smoke And Mirrors in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race (1400m).
“I thought Roda Robot should have won at his last start (ran second to Delilah in an Open Maiden race over 1400m on July 2), but he got into a bit of trouble,” explained Ong.
“He was caught wide and that happened, so we will go with a (two-kilo) claim this week. (Jockey) Zyrul (Nor Azman) has been working hard, so I’m happy to give him the opportunity.
“He (Zyrul) rode him well two starts ago (finished second to Two Million in a Class 5 race over 1400m on June 3) and he deserves the chance.
“Smoke And Mirrors (x Ocean Park) will appreciate being back to 1400m. Nunes will stay on and he (Smoke And Mirrors) had been knocking on the door, so he should go close.”
“It’s been a good few months. With only 15 months or so to go (until racing in Singapore cease to exist), I hope to continue to get winners for my owners.”
