Just like the other Kranji trainers with a runner in the $250,000 Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1200m) on Sunday, Shane Baertschiger makes up for the precious little he knows about the Korean trio with the better knowledge he has in his own charge Lincoln Road (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and even the local opposition.
As the Swiss Ace four-year-old started to knock in win after win on the Polytrack, the Australian handler was already locking the reciprocal race between the Singapore Turf Club and the Korea Racing Authority in his crosshairs given the maximum rating of 90 his charge was steadily building up towards.
By the time Lincoln Road, who landed in Singapore with a third over 1200m as his best showing from three starts in New Zealand, reeled off his five wins in a row at Kranji, his ratings had shot up from 53 to 74, which scaled even higher to 80 even after his first taste of defeat in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1100m on June 24.
Up against Kranji's Polytrack sprinting elite such as Super Winner and My Lucky Strike, Lincoln Road still ran a laudable third place, only two-and-a-half lengths off the well-named Super Winner.
Baertschiger had already made up his mind where Lincoln Road was headed next, even if he was aware it wouldn't be a walk in the park, not to mention the real possibility any one of the three unknown quantities from Korea, Parang Juuibo, Always Winner and Triple Five can still pop out of the woodwork.
"That was the race I had planned for him for a while. I was still happy with his last run even if it was the first time he got beat," said Baertschiger who did not field a runner in the inaugural race won by Super Winner last year.
"He was up against better quality horses like Super Winner and he sure tried his heart out. Super Winner was just too good, but my horse did not disgrace himself.
"It'll also be his first time over 1200m, but that's not because he doesn't have 1200m, far from it. It's just that there were no such races for him until this one came up.
"He ran up to 1400m in New Zealand, and I see no reason why he can't get the 1200m here on Polytrack.
"Unfortunately I don't know much about the Korean horses, but he will be running against some very good local horses like Good News and The General.
"But I think at the handicap, we are worse off as his rating (80) is less than the others like Good News (90) and Nova Warrior (89) and as it's a set-weights race, they all carry 57.5kgs."
Baertschiger said the New Zealand-based Lincoln Farms Stable-owned gelding had pulled up in great shape after his last run and he could not fault his condition four days from his big assignment.
"He galloped yesterday with JP (race-rider John Powell) and worked very well," said Baertschiger.
"JP was very happy with his condition. They have drawn a good barrier in three and I think they will get every chance from there."
While his eyes will be trained on Lincoln Road on Sunday, Baertschiger will fire out another top bullet next Sunday week in the Group 3 Juvenile Championship (1200m) – Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) runner-up Caorunn.
The much-hyped Showcasing two-year-old, who boasted three wins up to 1200m in New Zealand as well as a fourth place in the Karaka Million (1200m), was evidently not quite fully screwed down at his Kranji debut in the fourth Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series on June 10, finishing fifth to Macarthur, but one month later, came so close to bagging the top prize in the final Leg, the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe when a fighting second to Lim's Racer.
"Caorunn pulled up good after his run in the Aushorse. It's confirmed. He's going for the Juvenile Championship next Sunday," said Baertschiger.
"I thought the tough run would take something out of him, but no worries at all, he was bouncing around the next day. Matthew Kellady will ride him again." -STC
As the Swiss Ace four-year-old started to knock in win after win on the Polytrack, the Australian handler was already locking the reciprocal race between the Singapore Turf Club and the Korea Racing Authority in his crosshairs given the maximum rating of 90 his charge was steadily building up towards.
By the time Lincoln Road, who landed in Singapore with a third over 1200m as his best showing from three starts in New Zealand, reeled off his five wins in a row at Kranji, his ratings had shot up from 53 to 74, which scaled even higher to 80 even after his first taste of defeat in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1100m on June 24.
Up against Kranji's Polytrack sprinting elite such as Super Winner and My Lucky Strike, Lincoln Road still ran a laudable third place, only two-and-a-half lengths off the well-named Super Winner.
Baertschiger had already made up his mind where Lincoln Road was headed next, even if he was aware it wouldn't be a walk in the park, not to mention the real possibility any one of the three unknown quantities from Korea, Parang Juuibo, Always Winner and Triple Five can still pop out of the woodwork.
"That was the race I had planned for him for a while. I was still happy with his last run even if it was the first time he got beat," said Baertschiger who did not field a runner in the inaugural race won by Super Winner last year.
"He was up against better quality horses like Super Winner and he sure tried his heart out. Super Winner was just too good, but my horse did not disgrace himself.
"It'll also be his first time over 1200m, but that's not because he doesn't have 1200m, far from it. It's just that there were no such races for him until this one came up.
"He ran up to 1400m in New Zealand, and I see no reason why he can't get the 1200m here on Polytrack.
"Unfortunately I don't know much about the Korean horses, but he will be running against some very good local horses like Good News and The General.
"But I think at the handicap, we are worse off as his rating (80) is less than the others like Good News (90) and Nova Warrior (89) and as it's a set-weights race, they all carry 57.5kgs."
Baertschiger said the New Zealand-based Lincoln Farms Stable-owned gelding had pulled up in great shape after his last run and he could not fault his condition four days from his big assignment.
"He galloped yesterday with JP (race-rider John Powell) and worked very well," said Baertschiger.
"JP was very happy with his condition. They have drawn a good barrier in three and I think they will get every chance from there."
While his eyes will be trained on Lincoln Road on Sunday, Baertschiger will fire out another top bullet next Sunday week in the Group 3 Juvenile Championship (1200m) – Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) runner-up Caorunn.
The much-hyped Showcasing two-year-old, who boasted three wins up to 1200m in New Zealand as well as a fourth place in the Karaka Million (1200m), was evidently not quite fully screwed down at his Kranji debut in the fourth Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series on June 10, finishing fifth to Macarthur, but one month later, came so close to bagging the top prize in the final Leg, the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe when a fighting second to Lim's Racer.
"Caorunn pulled up good after his run in the Aushorse. It's confirmed. He's going for the Juvenile Championship next Sunday," said Baertschiger.
"I thought the tough run would take something out of him, but no worries at all, he was bouncing around the next day. Matthew Kellady will ride him again." -STC