Trainer Steven Burridge took a two-pronged attack in Saturday’s $85,000 Class 2 race (1600m) and while Makin had the recent winning runs on the board, Cavalry could be the horse to watch.
The five-year-old son of Tavistock will be first-up after suffering a bleeding attack in a Class 1 race (1600m) in August, just one run after stamping himself as a horse to follow where he finished second to Golden Monkey in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on 23 July.
Prior to the Derby run, he won in a Class 3 race (1400m) at his Singapore debut. All his three races were run when under the care of ex-Kranji trainer Michael Clements, suggesting the two-time listed winner in Australia was a class act.
Burridge, who took over Cavalry in September last year, has taken his time to get the New Zealand-bred gelding back to the races given his bleeding issue, but he was very much looking forward to what Cavalry has to offer on Saturday after four barrier trials and seven months on the sidelines.
“He’s a lovely horse,” said the experienced Australian conditioner.
“We took our time with him because of the bleeding, but he had four trials (finished second to Per Incrown at his most recent trial on 19 March) and he did everything right.
“In saying that, he didn’t really impress at the trials or work as he doesn’t seem to go well on the Polytrack. I tried to get him on the grass for a gallop this week, but not to be.
“And it had been hard to place him for a first-up run, given his rating (83) and they would run him off his feet over 1200m.
“So with no 1400m races scheduled, the mile on Saturday looked the best place to start him.
“He (Cavalry) only has 52kgs but a few of us (trainers) were caught out by the handicapped weights. So (jockey) Jaden (Lloyd), who I put on for all his trials, will have to ride him maybe one-and-a-half kilos over.
“He will meet race-fit horses, including my other horse (Makin), but I expect him to run well.”
While always taking it ‘one race at a time’, Burridge was keen to see Cavalry at his best sooner than later as he considered some feature races down the track.
“He (Cavalry) had good form in Australia and New Zealand, although a bit in-and-out, but he showed what he can do in the Derby after his good (Singapore) debut win,” he continued.
“If he gets through this okay, and no reason why he shouldn’t, we know he would be good enough for us to look at races like the (Group 2) EW Barker Trophy (1400m) and even the (Group 1) Kranji Mile (1600m).
“But whatever he does on Saturday, he will improve and let’s hope we can see him at his best soon”.
The EW Barker Trophy will be run on 21 April while the Kranji Mile is slated for 18 May.
Like Cavalry, Makin will most likely carry more than his handicapped weight of 50kgs, with Burridge keen to have regular jockey Manoel Nunes on board the four-year-old son of Written Tycoon.
“I have asked for permission for Manoel to ride overweight,” he explained.
“It’s not ideal having so many horses on such light weights as you want the best jockeys. So hopefully, he (Nunes) can ride him at 52.5kgs.
“He (Makin) came through his last win really well and Manoel was happy with his gallop just now.
“It’s a good race. Dream Alliance went super the other day (fifth in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize over 1600m on 9 March) but my boy (Makin) is in winning form and looks well weighted.
“Hopefully he runs well as we will back him off after this for the four-year-old races, starting with the (Group 3) Silver Bowl (1400m).”
Run on 9 June, the Silver Bowl will be followed by the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June while the Singapore Derby will be held on 21 July.
Burridge was also keen to see how Ejaz, another four-year-old of his, would go in the $70,000 Class 3 race (1400m). The son of Street Boss will be second-up at the races after a year on the sidelines.
“I thought his (Ejaz) first-up run (fourth in a Class 3 race over 1200m on 9 March) was a beauty, considering what he went through,” he said.
“He had a year off racing, had a big pin in his knee but looked to have come through the race fine.
“Manoel will ride him on Saturday and it will be a good test up against runners like Energy Baby and Lighting Strike.
“Hopefully no ‘second-up syndrome’ for Ejaz and he should run well.”
By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
