Trainer David Kok boldly expects his smart galloper Well Done to finish in the trifecta first-up in the $700,000 Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) on Sunday.
And that is even if the Falkirk chestnut has not raced since his stellar win in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) win in July and will take on the might of heavyweights such as War Affair, Debt Collector and Majestic Moments for one of the most mouth-watering clashes of the season.
Known as a conditioner who looks after his horses, Kok has given the five-year-old all the time in the world to come back to form after the break, but had made it clear all along where he was headed when he returns – all three Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series, which to this day remains unconquered territory.
Kok, who has his name to one of the Legs, the Kranji Mile with Cash Luck in 2013, is aware he has set the bar high, but said it was not all or nothing. Well Done has already made his dream come true with his Derby triumph, and victory in any one Leg would now be a bonus, starting with this Sunday.
To be ridden by his Patron's Bowl winning partner Glen Boss, Well Done will really be tested to the core against such top quality horses, but Kok has an almost unflinching faith in Jason Goh's gallant warrior.
Fitness-wise, Kok is unconcerned about any ring-rustiness, almost giving Well Done full marks ahead of his much-awaited comeback.
"He's had two barrier trials. The first one was quiet but he went super at the second one (September 15)," said the Singaporean handler in reference to Well Done's close third to Good News, hard-held.
"I was considering another trial after that, but Glen Boss told me he didn't need one and I went with his judgement.
"The horse has done pacework since and had a gallop on the main track (Polytrack) last Friday. Bossy rode him and was very happy with his condition.
"To him, he's not overcooked or undercooked, just nice. The whole time, I've tried to keep him as fresh as possible as his target is all three Legs in a row, with no other races in between."
Whether Well Done is right on the mark in the Mile, Kok will not lose sight of his next two assignments, especially the Holy Grail, the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20. Well Done has thus far not ventured beyond the 1 ¼ mile, which he ran out in smashing fashion in the Derby, reeling off the last 400m in a pulsating 21.76 seconds.
"Of course the Gold Cup distance is a question mark but I'm not too worried by it. He's by a staying mare (Gold Cloud) and I'm sure he can stay, but it's also true he'll be running against the best stayers in the field," said Kok.
With the recent tweaking in the handicap for the time-honoured race ie four points per kilo instead of two points, the compression of weights may see Well Done weighted higher than he would have, but Kok was not fazed.
In other words, if War Affair, who is currently on 118 points, runs in the Gold Cup and neither gain or lose any points until then, the pull in weights between the two will be only 4.5kgs instead of 9kgs.
"I'm not too worried by the change in the handicaps for the Gold Cup. Well Done will be weighted around 55 or 56 kilos if War Affair runs," he said.
"History has shown us that the low weights often win the Gold Cup, but Well Done is a horse on the way up and he can carry weight. All the other horses will be on the same handicap conditions.
"But I'll worry about the Gold Cup later. For now it's the Kranji Mile he has to go for, and I'm confident he can measure up even if the opposition is much stronger.
"I think he can still finish in the first three." -STC
And that is even if the Falkirk chestnut has not raced since his stellar win in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) win in July and will take on the might of heavyweights such as War Affair, Debt Collector and Majestic Moments for one of the most mouth-watering clashes of the season.
Known as a conditioner who looks after his horses, Kok has given the five-year-old all the time in the world to come back to form after the break, but had made it clear all along where he was headed when he returns – all three Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series, which to this day remains unconquered territory.
Kok, who has his name to one of the Legs, the Kranji Mile with Cash Luck in 2013, is aware he has set the bar high, but said it was not all or nothing. Well Done has already made his dream come true with his Derby triumph, and victory in any one Leg would now be a bonus, starting with this Sunday.
To be ridden by his Patron's Bowl winning partner Glen Boss, Well Done will really be tested to the core against such top quality horses, but Kok has an almost unflinching faith in Jason Goh's gallant warrior.
Fitness-wise, Kok is unconcerned about any ring-rustiness, almost giving Well Done full marks ahead of his much-awaited comeback.
"He's had two barrier trials. The first one was quiet but he went super at the second one (September 15)," said the Singaporean handler in reference to Well Done's close third to Good News, hard-held.
"I was considering another trial after that, but Glen Boss told me he didn't need one and I went with his judgement.
"The horse has done pacework since and had a gallop on the main track (Polytrack) last Friday. Bossy rode him and was very happy with his condition.
"To him, he's not overcooked or undercooked, just nice. The whole time, I've tried to keep him as fresh as possible as his target is all three Legs in a row, with no other races in between."
Whether Well Done is right on the mark in the Mile, Kok will not lose sight of his next two assignments, especially the Holy Grail, the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20. Well Done has thus far not ventured beyond the 1 ¼ mile, which he ran out in smashing fashion in the Derby, reeling off the last 400m in a pulsating 21.76 seconds.
"Of course the Gold Cup distance is a question mark but I'm not too worried by it. He's by a staying mare (Gold Cloud) and I'm sure he can stay, but it's also true he'll be running against the best stayers in the field," said Kok.
With the recent tweaking in the handicap for the time-honoured race ie four points per kilo instead of two points, the compression of weights may see Well Done weighted higher than he would have, but Kok was not fazed.
In other words, if War Affair, who is currently on 118 points, runs in the Gold Cup and neither gain or lose any points until then, the pull in weights between the two will be only 4.5kgs instead of 9kgs.
"I'm not too worried by the change in the handicaps for the Gold Cup. Well Done will be weighted around 55 or 56 kilos if War Affair runs," he said.
"History has shown us that the low weights often win the Gold Cup, but Well Done is a horse on the way up and he can carry weight. All the other horses will be on the same handicap conditions.
"But I'll worry about the Gold Cup later. For now it's the Kranji Mile he has to go for, and I'm confident he can measure up even if the opposition is much stronger.
"I think he can still finish in the first three." -STC