Lightweight hope Relentless may not have visited the winner’s circle for over 16 months, but that did not dampen the mood in the six-year-old’s camp leading up to the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
Unplaced in this race last year, Relentless’ last win came in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) in June 2022 when he beat this year’s Gold Cup topweight contender Lim’s Kosciuszko, which was a rare defeat for Singapore’s reigning Horse of the Year.
But the champion quickly exacted revenge after he relegated the son of Hallowed Crown to second in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) three weeks later, but a case could be made as Relentless was desperately unlucky and hemmed in by traffic in the straight.
Since then, the paths of the two classy gallopers had been polar opposites with Lim’s Kosciuszko winning seven Group races, including six at Group 1 level and Relentless only managing one third – at Class 3 level – from nine starts.
On paper, not many would consider Relentless even a remote chance of turning things around on Saturday against both Lim’s Kosciuszko and the best stayers at Kranji, but oddly, the pride of the Arexevan-Relentless Stable has been in the Gold Cup conversation.
He is tasked to carry only 50.5kgs at the handicap conditions in this third Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, and Relentless came off arguably his best run since the Derby when he finished fourth to Hongkong Great in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 14 October.
The five-time winner ran four lengths behind runner-up Lim’s Kosciuszko then and since both horses carried 58kgs at the weight-for-age conditions, there is a huge seven-and-a-half kilos swing in the weights between the two races.
Hence, David Dawson, part-owner and director of Arexevan-Relentless Stable, felt confident of a big run by Relentless at the weights.
“We have planned for this race since January,” said the Australian, who was better known as ‘Disco’.
“The (Singapore) Derby was our grand final last year and (trainer) Tim (Fitzsimmons) did a superb job to have him peaking at the right time.
“Take nothing away from the good horse (Lim’s Kosciuszko), but we thought we should have won that race.
“He (Relentless) was trained to perfection for that race (Singapore Derby) and while we gave him a freshen-up into last year’s Gold Cup tilt (ran 11th to Hongkong Great), it was still a bit rushed in hindsight and it showed.
“This year, we have made the Gold Cup our grand final and while he had a few lameness issues early in the year, we head into Saturday in the best form he has been in since last year’s Derby and with just 50.5kgs to carry.
“Again, Tim has done a magnificent job and we look a live chance if things go our way.”
One of the things that need to go Relentless’ way was the track conditions. Connections will be praying for some rain before Saturday.
Yet, with three-time Singapore Gold Cup-winning jockey Ronnie Stewart booked to ride and the horse in top order, Dawson was happy to worry about the things he can control.
“We’ve already reserved the tables in the Owners’ Lounge,” quipped Dawson.
“We had booked Ronnie before he dismounted (from Relentless) after the QEII (Cup) and we have drawn barrier six. Our job is done!
“But yes, we would love some rain. He jarred up badly when he loomed up but only managed third in that Class 3 race (over 1600m on 23 September). The (firm) track had been a concern for a few horses lately but I can’t do anything about that.
“When we got into racing in Singapore 18 years ago, we dreamed of winning this race, so just to have a runner with a chance is huge for us.
“Trudeau won the (Group 2) EW Barker Trophy (1400m) in 2013; that was our biggest win as owners, but this (Singapore Gold Cup) is the pinnacle of racing in Singapore. We ran fourth with Hint in 2011 and hopefully, we can go three better this Saturday.
“There are only two Singapore Gold Cups left. We want to win one.”
With the announcement that Singapore racing will hold its final meeting on 5 October next year, the last edition of the Singapore Gold Cup, which enters its 100th year of running in 2024, will be run then.
