Trainer Ricardo Le Grange might have different plans for Bestseller and Rocket Star when it comes to their future races, but for now, their paths will cross again in the $110,000 Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) this Saturday.
The two highest-rated gallopers in his yard, Rocket Star at 89 and Bestseller at 86 points, both ran first-up in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) on 11 February, albeit finishing unplaced in ninth and 10th to winner Golden Monkey respectively.
Both runners pulled up in good order and trialled well last Tuesday, with Rocket Star finishing one ahead of Bestseller in fourth in the barrier trial won by Mr Black Back.
While they were both fit to face the starter this time, Le Grange had the Committee’s Prize in mind for Bestseller as a launchpad towards his four-year-old campaign.
“Bestseller will go for all three (4YO Group) races and that’s the plan for him in the next few months,” said the South African conditioner, who has yet to win the Committee’s Prize since becoming an A-grade trainer in 2017.
“And I still believe he has the potential to run in the (Group 1) (100th Grand) Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) later on.
“He had no luck in the Fortune Bowl because he was caught wide, had a bad barrier (11) and was badly weighted at 56kgs.
“He’s very well-weighted here. I needed to start him somewhere and I believe he’s come on really nicely from the Fortune Bowl.”
After his first Group win in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) last December, the Dream Ahead four-year-old is now being targeted at the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on 9 June, the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June and the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on 21 July.
Jockey and two-time winning partner Vlad Duric was unable to make the handicapped weight of 50kgs this time, hence Le Grange will put new lightweight rider, Carlos Henrique, on.
The Brazilian jockey made his Kranji debut last Saturday with seven rides, all supplied by Le Grange. Although he has yet to open his account in Singapore, the former Qatar-based hoop came home with three placings and two fourths.
The new partnership would come to fruition in the best way possible should Bestseller come out tops, but Le Grange also noted other factors that could affect the result in the 13-horse field.
“His running pattern would depend on the barrier draw. I’d like a soft gate for him,” he said.
“Vlad cannot ride at that weight (50kgs), but Carlos should be able to ride him at 50 (kgs).
“Golden Monkey’s in the race so I knew he (Bestseller) would be carrying a low weight. I couldn’t find anyone to ride him at 50kilos at first, but later I found out Carlos could.
“Carlos galloped him yesterday morning, together with Rocket Star. They both galloped very well.
“As always, I respect all my competitors. Golden Monkey’s a super horse but he obviously had to give us weight. Still, every horse deserves their chance. Most importantly, I look forward to my horses coming out of the races in good order.
“I don’t think he (Bestseller) minds the rain. He won the Colonial Chief (Stakes) in pouring rain so I don’t think he would mind that bit of give in the track.”
Seasoned galloper Rocket Star, on the other hand, was more of a “race-by-race” prospect nowadays. The talented sprinter-miler also showed promise as a youngster since his debut in 2019, but never shed the bridesmaid tag in Group races, albeit he was also not beaten far.
Now seven, the son of Star Witness did suffer from some health setbacks which made it more difficult to plan races in advance, but Le Grange would not discount him either.
Prior to resuming in the Fortune Bowl, Rocket Star had to be sidelined for six months when he had chips removed from his right-fore fetlock after he finished fifth in the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) in August last year.
“He had surgery to remove chips out of his right-fore fetlock, so he had to rest,” said Le Grange.
“He’s also got bleeding and respiratory issues as well, so we have to monitor and take it race by race with him.
“But he had a very good run in the Fortune Bowl. We had to go back from a wide draw (14) but he was strong on the line.
“He’s always been an unlucky horse, especially in the Group races, but I also believed that with a good draw and a low weight (50.5kgs), he will be competitive.
“We tried the pacifiers and winkers before (at his last three starts before the Fortune Bowl) but I don’t think they made much difference, so he won’t be wearing any this time.
“A middle to outside gate would probably be better for him since he comes off them.
“Both horses trialled exceptionally well and I’m hopeful they will run well.
“Bestseller’s the younger horse and progressive whereas Rocker Star is the old campaigner but I think it will come down to the draws and their luck in the running.”
Now owned by Lamberto Almeda, Rocket Star will partner jockey Krisna Thangamani again in the Committee’s Prize.
By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
