Tavistock four-year-old Infantry (NZ) will carry a distinctly international flavour when he contests the 1 billion Won (S$1.2 million) Group 1 Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) at Seoul Racecourse on September 11.
Prepared by US-trained Singaporean trainer Alwin Tan, the New Zealand-bred is raced by Thai owners Kajorn Petch Racing No 2 Stable and will be ridden by Brazilian jockey Manoel Nunes.
But one thing is for sure. He and Order Of The Sun will carry the hopes of one nation when he faces off with six other overseas horses and a domestic team of Korean-based horses, who have yet to be nominated – Singapore.
Majulah Singapura won't ring out for the first time at Seoul Racecourse if either one of them wins, or Super Winner salutes in the sister sprint race, the 700 million Won ($852,000) Group 1 Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m).
Tan and El Padrino have already etched their names in history as the first Singapore trainer and horse to capture a Korean race when the son of Mr Nancho took out the inaugural Asia Challenge Cup (1400m) in 2014.
But Tan is just as thrilled to pick up a third consecutive invitation from the Korea Racing Authority (El Padrino ran second in his title defence of the Asia Challenge Cup – when shortened to 1200m - last year) in the mailbox, even if he is a little disappointed his old "Padre" will stay at home this time.
"I feel lucky the Koreans have picked Infantry for the Korea Cup; he was our only entry. It's great for his Thai owners too as they are very keen to travel, but El Padrino had no luck (in Korea Sprint) this time," said Singapore's current leading trainer who also had Nova Strike and Nova Master earmarked for the Korea Sprint.
"Everything is going very well for Infantry. He has been working very well and will trial either next Tuesday or Thursday, depending on how he pulls up from his Saturday gallop.
"Manoel rode him yesterday and was quite happy with him. He knows the horse well and will ride him in Korea."
A four-time winner between 1200m and 1600m, Infantry is scheduled to fly to Korea together with Order Of The Sun and Super Winner on September 1.
Though Tan will be at his third visit in Korea, the sand track still remains a question mark. El Padrino may seem to grow a leg on it, but his second runner last year, Happy Money, never travelled well in the Asia Challenge Cup won by Korea's Cheogang Schiller, to beat one home. He has struggled to regain his form since returning from Seoul.
"Infantry can handle both Polytrack and turf, but we won't know how he handles the sand in Korea until he tries. It's deeper and there is a lot of kickback," said Tan.
"El Padrino loved it, but look at Happy Money. He didn't travel well to start with as he lost condition, and then, he didn't go a yard in the sand.
"It's a pity El Padrino won't go again as I had been prepping him up again for that race, and he was coming along nicely as you could see from his barrier trial last week.
"Even if he's not going, it won't change anything as he will still run in that Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on August 28. In any case, he would have run in it as a last prep if he was invited."
Tan let in it would have been the eight-year-old's last fling and the 10-time international winner of close to $1.3 million was not far off his twilight years.
"The owner (One Eight Eight Stable of Mr Chua) has actually already discussed with me, and they were thinking of retiring him after Korea if he had gone. It would have been his swansong," he said.
"We may still retire him very soon, but let's see how he runs in his next race at Kranji first." -STC
Prepared by US-trained Singaporean trainer Alwin Tan, the New Zealand-bred is raced by Thai owners Kajorn Petch Racing No 2 Stable and will be ridden by Brazilian jockey Manoel Nunes.
But one thing is for sure. He and Order Of The Sun will carry the hopes of one nation when he faces off with six other overseas horses and a domestic team of Korean-based horses, who have yet to be nominated – Singapore.
Majulah Singapura won't ring out for the first time at Seoul Racecourse if either one of them wins, or Super Winner salutes in the sister sprint race, the 700 million Won ($852,000) Group 1 Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m).
Tan and El Padrino have already etched their names in history as the first Singapore trainer and horse to capture a Korean race when the son of Mr Nancho took out the inaugural Asia Challenge Cup (1400m) in 2014.
But Tan is just as thrilled to pick up a third consecutive invitation from the Korea Racing Authority (El Padrino ran second in his title defence of the Asia Challenge Cup – when shortened to 1200m - last year) in the mailbox, even if he is a little disappointed his old "Padre" will stay at home this time.
"I feel lucky the Koreans have picked Infantry for the Korea Cup; he was our only entry. It's great for his Thai owners too as they are very keen to travel, but El Padrino had no luck (in Korea Sprint) this time," said Singapore's current leading trainer who also had Nova Strike and Nova Master earmarked for the Korea Sprint.
"Everything is going very well for Infantry. He has been working very well and will trial either next Tuesday or Thursday, depending on how he pulls up from his Saturday gallop.
"Manoel rode him yesterday and was quite happy with him. He knows the horse well and will ride him in Korea."
A four-time winner between 1200m and 1600m, Infantry is scheduled to fly to Korea together with Order Of The Sun and Super Winner on September 1.
Though Tan will be at his third visit in Korea, the sand track still remains a question mark. El Padrino may seem to grow a leg on it, but his second runner last year, Happy Money, never travelled well in the Asia Challenge Cup won by Korea's Cheogang Schiller, to beat one home. He has struggled to regain his form since returning from Seoul.
"Infantry can handle both Polytrack and turf, but we won't know how he handles the sand in Korea until he tries. It's deeper and there is a lot of kickback," said Tan.
"El Padrino loved it, but look at Happy Money. He didn't travel well to start with as he lost condition, and then, he didn't go a yard in the sand.
"It's a pity El Padrino won't go again as I had been prepping him up again for that race, and he was coming along nicely as you could see from his barrier trial last week.
"Even if he's not going, it won't change anything as he will still run in that Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on August 28. In any case, he would have run in it as a last prep if he was invited."
Tan let in it would have been the eight-year-old's last fling and the 10-time international winner of close to $1.3 million was not far off his twilight years.
"The owner (One Eight Eight Stable of Mr Chua) has actually already discussed with me, and they were thinking of retiring him after Korea if he had gone. It would have been his swansong," he said.
"We may still retire him very soon, but let's see how he runs in his next race at Kranji first." -STC