Trainer James Peters is enjoying a stellar run of form and he hopes the winning run can continue before racing in Singapore winds down after its final meeting on 5 October.
The dapper Englishman is enjoying his best year as a trainer as he sits on a career-high seventh on the season’s trainers’ log while standing out with 11 wins from his last 66 runners.
Meanwhile, only leading trainers, Jason Ong (15) and Tim Fitzsimmons (12) have trained more winners in the last 10 weeks. With Peters having the highest winning strike rate at 16.7% among the trainers, his 10 runners on Sunday will most probably be well thought of by punters.
Onemorefortheroad is a big part of the stable’s recent excellent run and he will be gunning for a hat-trick of wins in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1600m.
The five-year-old had not visited the winner’s circle for more than a year before breaking the drought in a Class 5 race (1400m) on 9 June with jockey Bruno Queiroz astride.
The talented Brazilian hoop was again onboard when Onemorefortheroad won back-to-back in the same company and trip at his last start on 7 July. While tasked to carry an extra three kilos to make it 58.5kgs on Sunday, Peters was still confident of another strong showing from the pair.
“He seemed to enjoy the freshen-up and a change of scenery,” said Peters of the son of Proisir, who was previously trained by ex-Kranji trainer Stephen Gray.
“I gave him a short break when I got him and Bruno only jumped on because I hadn’t nominate a rider for his barrier trial (won trial no 3 on 30 May).
“He showed Bruno enough that he asked for the ride and I was more than happy with that. He (Onemorefortheroad) was on a low mark (rated at 35 points) but won nice enough.
“Then he won just as easy at his next start in a stronger field with Bruno up again; so we’re not changing that combination as they get along.
“His (Queiroz) feedback after that last win was that 1400m was probably too sharp for him now as he had to push him along early.
“That’s why we’re stepping him up to the mile. Hopefully, he gets a slower tempo early and can be more comfortable in the running.
“He’s at the top of Class 5 now, so he’ll have to improve, but we can’t fault him.”
Of his other runners on the day, Peters believed the revitalized Fast And Fearless is not without a winning chance in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race (1200m) while stable stalwart Endless will line up for the 67th time in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1400m.
“He’s (Fast And Fearless) in his best form and to be honest, I’m not sure why,” said Peters of the seven-year-old son of Iffraaj.
“He won late last year (in a Class 5 race over 1000m on 25 November) and hasn’t done much wrong since.
“After his two recent Class 5 wins (over 1100m on 12 May and in a Division 1 race over 1000m on 1 June), he’s up to Class 4, but he wasn’t beaten far (half-a-length behind in fourth in a Class 4 race over 1100m on 13 July), so he should have some hope here.
“He can be tested, stamina-wise, over 1200m but we kept it simple with him. He had plenty of swimming and is a happy horse.
“Not sure if Endless (x War Front) would run in the top four but he’s been here for as long as I can remember and he stays until the end.
“He’s 10 now and it’s horses like him that keeps stables like mine going.
“He was in good form at the end of last year but had a virus which took a bit out of him.
“But we’ve found a very good home for him after racing ends in Singapore and he will head to Thailand to retire.
“It’s a safe environment – I have sent horses there previously – and he will be well looked after. He deserves it.”
By Larry Foley
