Ghalib has drawn the dreaded barrier 15 in the $70,000 Class 3 race (1400m) at his first run for trainer Steven Burridge on Saturday, but the Australian handler will count on his regular partner Manoel Nunes in the search for three on the trot.
Burridge’s stable was boosted this week after seven horses from the savvy Al-Arabiya Stable were transferred from trainer Michael Clements.
Among them was an up-and-coming sort, Ghalib, who knocked in two wins from as many starts in two Class 4 races over six furlongs on 13 August and 16 September respectively when under the care of Clements.
It looked to be exciting times ahead for the four-year-old son of I Am Invincible, but then came the dampener after he drew wide at his third start.
Formerly known as Eponymous, Ghalib impressed many after he beat the smart Knippenberg at his last start and should be more than up to the challenge thrown at him on Saturday.
With the race run on the Short Course over 1400m, it would give four-time Singapore champion jockey Nunes ample time to find some cover. Also, although Ghalib would be up in grade this time, he will only carry 54kgs, three-and-a-half kilos less than what he shouldered at his last-start win.
Even though the promising youngster, who recorded one win (1100m) from six starts when trained by Chris Waller in Australia, will continue to have admirers, Burridge would need Ghalib to be at his best to keep his unbeaten record intact.
“That certainly made it tough,” said Burridge, with regards to the wide alley.
“But we have Manoel on board and I will leave it up to him. He knows the horse better than me – I’ve only had him for a week – and he (Nunes) makes his own luck.
“Hopefully that long run into the bend helps us and you never know what happens after they jump. It is a concern though, as he got the favours from gate one last start, so he will need to improve again in this field.
“But he’s (Ghalib) a lovely type. I was very happy to welcome the Al-Arabiya Stable to our team. The have some nice horses and I’m looking forward to winning races with them.
“As you would expect from Mike (Clements), they all came over in really good condition and I will spend the next few weeks sorting out their personalities and which races suit going forward.”
Burridge also has Wealth Elite, another last-start winner in a Class 4 race over 1200m on 30 September, in the Class 3 field and he thought a bit of rain before Saturday would help the Brazilian-bred son of Midshipman’s chances.
“He needs the sting out of the ground,” said the affable conditioner, who also saddles a third runner Lim’s Craft in this race but as the No 2. Emergency Acceptor.
“The rain helped at his last start and he’s up in class, but he has plenty to offer and he’s honest. (Jockey) Yusoff (Fadzli) won on him last start but was committed to (trainer) Donna (Logan for his ride on Luxury Brand).
“So I put another two-kilo claimer on. (Jockey) Iskandar (Rosman) has some strength about him, so he suits.”
Burridge is also looking forward to the $300,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (1800m) next Saturday, with Mr Malek (x Swiss Ace) and Invincible Tycoon (x I Am Invincible) both in the conversation.
“The good horse (Raffles Cup winner Lim’s Kosciuszko) makes it hard to win (the QEII Cup) but having two runners in form is a good place to be,” said Burridge, who famously won the (then Group 2) QEII Cup in 2006 with the late Queen of the United Kingdom herself in attendance.
“I thought Invincible Tycoon’s run in the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (1600m) two weeks ago was really good. He wasn’t entitled to run second (to Lim’s Kosciuszko) in weight-for-age company, so I couldn’t have been happier with that run.
“He’s been a war horse too. He had 12 runs this year for four wins and ran in the first three another five times. That’s a big effort, especially given what he has shown at Group level.
“And Mr Malek is on target for another good run. He’s been a marvel since he had his cancer cut out and his run in the Raffles Cup (finished third) was a beauty.
“If we run in the placings again, I would be happy, but you never know.
“Both (horses) will go into the (Group 1) (Singapore) Gold Cup (2000m) if they come through the QEII (Cup) in good order.”
Held on November 11, the Singapore Gold Cup is the third Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series while the Raffles Cup and the QEII Cup are the first two Legs.
By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
