By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Before the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) gets underway in three weeks’ time, trainer Steven Burridge will saddle two Kranji Mile nominees, Makin and Cavalry in the $85,000 Class 2 race (1600m) on Saturday prior to deciding if they run in the big race.
In particular, the in-form Makin has already won three-in-a-row and given the son of Written Tycoon is four this year, connections were also keen to run him in three feature races, namely 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, which were once the three Legs of the discontinued Singapore Four-Year-Old series.
While the Al-Arabiya Stable-owned Makin could still compete in the Kranji Mile on 18 May before the Silver Bowl runs three weeks later, Burridge had more to consider than just his rising star being freshened up and dropping back to 1400m if he were to run in the Silver Bowl instead.
“You have to choose your battles,” said the astute Australian conditioner, who has also nominated Invincible Tycoon and Street Of Dreams in the Kranji Mile.
“(Kranji Mile nominee) Lim’s Kosciuszko will be a ‘mighty battle’ to take on at set weights (in the Kranji Mile).
“If they were going to beat him (Lim’s Kosciuszko), it was going to be at his last start (when he won under handicap conditions in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy over 1400m on 21 April). So, we have to take that into consideration.
“I definitely want Makin to have every chance in the 4YO races. So, if that means missing out on the Kranji Mile, then so be it.
“The 4YO races won’t be easy either, but I want to see him at his best for the start of that.
“I haven’t won the Singapore Derby before, so that would be nice before the place shuts.”
But Burridge has been in the game long enough to know that it is unwise to set plans in stone and a lot will depend on what Makin does with 56kgs at Class 2 level this Saturday.
“In saying that, he (Makin) is at the top of his game and million-dollar races (Kranji Mile) don’t come around every day,” he continued.
“And you never know what happens to the good horse (Lim’s Kosciuszko) on the day, so we will make that final decision in a week or two, but we (trainers) have to be flexible.
“We expect him (Makin) to run well this Saturday. He has drawn wide (in barrier 11) and has a bit more weight to carry (three-and-a-half kilos more) than his last start (won carrying 52.5kgs in a Class 2 race over 1600m on 30 March), but that win was impressive.
“(Jockey) Manoel (Nunes) will ride him again and I think a lot will depend on his (Nunes) feedback after the race to see where we go next.”
Of Cavalry, Burridge will also decide after the race if the five-year-old son of Tavistock will run in the Kranji Mile next.
“He needs to show something,” he said.
“I thought his first-up run (finished fourth to Makin on 30 March) was really good considering it was over the mile and he hadn’t raced since August last year (in a Class 1 race over 1600m).
“He only petered out late and trialled well the other day (finished second to Makin in trial no 3 on 25 April), so I’m very happy with how is going.
“If he runs well on Saturday, which I think he will, he will go straight to the Kranji Mile.
“He has to pull up good, but (jockey) Ruan (Maia) has been booked for this week and will partner him in the big race as well.
“He (Cavalry) showed in the (Singapore) Derby last year (ran second to Golden Monkey) he is a top horse, so let’s hope he can get back to his best.”
Among four other opponents that are also Kranji Mile hopefuls, Rocket Star, Istataba, Raising Sixty-One and Saint Tropez, Burridge reckoned weights could tell a tale at Class 2 level.
“At a glance, I think Saint Tropez looked well in with 50kgs,” he said.
“He will be dropping back from his last win over 2000m (in a Class 4 race on 21 April) but he’s a nice horse on the minimum (weight), so you have to respect that.
“It looks a good field to be fair. I wasn’t sure we would get enough runners; so to have an 11-horse field is a surprise.
“That’s great for horses heading towards the Kranji Mile and hopefully, one of my two can get a result.”
