Drongo – a maiden so infamous in Australian horse racing history, his name became a colloquialism for someone considered one of life’s losers.
The well-bred stayer didn’t win a race in some 37-career starts but was by no means a battler. Runner-up in the 1923 Group 1 Victorian Derby, Drongo also raced in the time-honoured Group 1 Melbourne Cup on two occasions.
So when a horse formally known as Shalatin – runner-up as a two-year-old in the $1 million Golden Gift (2021) and placing third in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (2022) – could not break his maiden status after 12 starts in Australia for trainer Joe Pride, comparisons to the “great” Drongo were being made.
Not ideal for all concerned and it was off to the Inglis Digital auction (February 2023) for the winless son of Shalaa, who was purchased for AUD$100,000 by ex-Singapore trainer, Jason Lim.
Fast-forward only six-months and the four-old now known as Lord’s Command not only broke his overdue maiden status – and his premature Drongo tag – at his Singapore debut (Open Maiden over 1200m on August 27), he bolted in by some six lengths.
And there looks to be no reason why the flashy Lordship Stable-owned gelding cannot make it two-from-two at Kranji when he lines up in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m (Polytrack), the lucky last on Saturday’s 11-race card.
Trained by Richard Lim, Lord’s Command came in for heavy support ($7) when smashing his rivals on debut. While that win was on the turf, his trial form prior was exceptional, suggesting he more than handles the Polytrack.
And the ease with which he won – and his maiden form from Australia – suggests that Class 4 company will definitely hold no fears, with four-time Singapore champion jockey, Manoel Nunes, retaining the plumb ride.
Also in his favour is the fact that the only other horse bringing winning form into the race is First Bowl – who steps up from Class 5 company (August 20 over 1100m) – with Surrey Hills (emergency acceptor 1), the only other horse to run in the top three at their last start (Class 4 race over 1000m on August 20).
So all things being equal, Lord’s Command again starts “in the red” and again it may be a case of who runs second.
And his forthright trainer agrees.
“The way he won, he should be hard to beat this week,” said Lim from trackwork on Thursday.
“I know it was a (Open) Maiden (race), but it was like a trial that win. And he pulled up really well after, so he’s ready to go again.
“Manoel galloped him on Tuesday and he (Lord’s Command) did it nice and easy. I know it (winning)ß is never that easy – and he’s having his first race start on the Polytrack – but he is such a nice horse.”
Such a nice horse that Lim – who famously won the 2006 Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup as a jockey on King And King, and was presented his trophy by Her Majesty the Queen herself – was amazed that Lord’s Command arrived in Singapore still a maiden.
“The first time we galloped him, we wondered why he hadn’t won a race before,” he said.
“But when you look at his form, he had placed in some very good races as a two-year-old and maybe things didn’t go his way as a three-year-old.
“He’s straightforward too. So while we knew he had the ability and had won his first trial (won trial no 1 on August 1 in the time of 59.99secs), his maiden status was the only worry.
“And you saw what he did on debut. So I guess we had nothing to worry about, but it was nice to get that win under his belt.
“If he goes on with the job on Saturday – and no reason why he won’t – we will definitely plan around the four-year-old series next year.
“Obviously we will have to see if he gets over more ground, but he’s an exciting prospect for sure.”
The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge consists of the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m), the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and culminates in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m).
But while it is the trainer’s job to plan months in advance, his jockey is only concentrating on the job at hand on Saturday.
“Let’s see how he handles the Polytrack this week,” said Nunes, who has two hands on the 2023 champion jockey title with 70 wins for the season.
“And you have to respect Class 4 horses too. Yes, he won well last time, but it was Open Maiden company and this is much tougher.
“In saying that, he’s a lovely horse and he’s getting better with each gallop.
“His trials were very good, so he should go well on the Polytrack. But races are different to trials.
“I will have a good look at the race field tonight but he seems a versatile type. So from gate four I will probably see how the race pans out early and let him race where he is happy.”
