Out of the seven trainers within the $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-Yr-Outdated Dash (1,200m) on April 6, solely two are on the honour roll.
Tim Fitzsimmons and Donna Logan gained that characteristic as the primary leg of the Singapore Three-Yr-Outdated Problem with Golden Monkey (2022) and January (2023) respectively.
Sadly, the famed sequence is discontinued at Singapore’s farewell 2024 season however the three legs – different two are the Group 2 Singapore Three-Yr-Outdated Basic (1,400m) on April 27 and the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1,600m) on Might 18 – are nonetheless run as standalone options.
Regardless of there being no bonus up for grabs for successful two legs or all three, Kranji trainers nonetheless seek advice from them because the “3YO sequence”.
In 2022, Golden Monkey pulled off a “Double Crown” of kinds within the Dash and Basic, given the Guineas was in abeyance.
In 2023, it’s a moot level whether or not Coin Toss may have develop into the final Triple Crown winner for the reason that nice Warfare Affair in 2014.
The son of Flying Artie turned collateral harm as a part of the five-horse squad withdrawn on Dash day following coach Michael Clements’ optimistic morphine circumstances. He went on to win the Basic and the reinstated Guineas.
No motive was given for getting rid of the Problem in 2024. However, ought to one horse make the clear sweep, no one would begrudge the successful coach’s bragging rights to Singapore’s “final 3YO Triple Crown winner”.
Stunningly, one of many seven trainers having a final shot at historical past has “been there and performed that”.
“Not fairly,” mentioned Steven Burridge. “However, sure, I used to be there at Bukit Timah in 1997 when Southerly Wind gained all three legs of the very first version of the 3YO sequence, then often called the Tiger Beer Triple Problem.
“I used to be secure foreman to Mick Kent on the time. Southerly Wind was an excellent horse who gained with three completely different high jockeys – Corey Brown, Brett Prebble and Darren Gauci.
“Sadly, as a coach in my very own proper (since 2005), I didn’t have many good three-year-olds, aside from Lim’s Lightning (2019). He gained the 2YO race (Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe) however had no luck within the 3YO races.”
Lim’s Lightning ultimately moved to Australia and again to Singapore to Daniel Meagher, selecting up 4 Group 1 wins.
Mockingly, Burridge’s essential 3YO hope in 2024 is himself a secure switch.
Bakeel was among the many Al-Arabiya Secure squad who joined the veteran Australian after coach Michael Clements give up Kranji in September.
With a promising file that included a debut win, expectations had been excessive however the son of Sioux Nation needed to recover from a wind operation first.
A primary-up second adopted by an excellent Novice (1,400m) win on March 17 in two begins for Burridge have put him within the field seat, however his new handler prefers to err on the facet of warning.
“He’s a pleasant horse. He ran very nicely first-up, in all probability higher than I believed, contemplating he was caught vast,” he mentioned.
“He was once more caught vast at his subsequent begin, however he made a transfer to rise up there, and gained a pleasant race. He’s drawn vast once more (9), however it’s okay.
“He had a wind op, however all the pieces is okay now. He’s going for all three legs of the three-year-old sequence, even when the second leg and 1,600m leg will swimsuit him higher.
“We’re taking the winkers off and placing blinkers on with a shadow roll. (Manoel) Nunes advisable that, they need to make him sharper, again to 1,200m.”
Many typically decide the Brazilian horseman’s mind for gear tinkering, however maturity remains to be the important thing, he mentioned.
“He’s nonetheless an enormous child and remains to be studying what racing is all about,” mentioned the five-time Singapore champion jockey.
“When he hits the entrance, he nonetheless doesn’t know what to do. However he’ll get extra confidence with extra racing.”
Ought to Bakeel falter, Burridge doesn’t appear to have the strongest back-up plan in one-time winner Hasten, however the owner-trainer begs to vary.
“His final run was disappointing however he was squeezed out. I count on him to run nicely. He gained’t run final, he’ll do his finest,” he mentioned.
“It’s not an enormous subject however it’s an elite subject. It’s a really open race.
“There are six to seven probabilities out of 9. Ace Of Diamonds, Greatham Boy, Pacific Commander, Final Supper are all excellent.”
manyan@sph.com.sg
