Trainer Shane Baertschiger hopes a drop back in trip will give Best Tothelign a better shot at a second 'black type' win this Sunday.
The son of Align dead-heated with the Desmond Koh-trained Order Of The Sun in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes, which is a Polytrack event over 1700m, last year, but Baertschiger believes the 1400m of the $200,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes is more up his alley.
The Australian handler actually has two bullets in the feature race, with the talented but erratic Blue Swede also in the running.
Baertschiger said he could not fault either runner's form, but at least, he knows the element of unpredictability is out of the equation for Best Tothelign, who will be ridden by John Powell who was aboard at his last start when last to Quechua in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy (1800m) on August 7.
"Best Tothelign had a nice freshen-up after his last run. He didn't stay the 1800m," he said.
"He ran a trial last week and he went all right. The drop back to the 1400m will be better for him.
"JP (John Powell) will ride him. He's won five times on him and knows him well.
"If he draws well, I'm sure he will be in with a chance."
Coming off a well-earned break after his Colonial Chief triumph, the MA Racing Stable-owned six-year-old commenced his 2016 campaign on a winning note, followed by two close placings, but fell by the wayside at his last two runs when stepped up to 1600m and 1800m, the latter run in the Chairman's Trophy, arguably his worst performance in his 23 starts at Kranji.
Baertschiger has all along regarded Best Tothelign as one of the best horses he has had under his care. Blue Swede could have potentially been just as good if not better, if not for his habit of throwing the race away at the start and racing ungenerously thereafter.
"Blue Swede is a horse you can't get too carried away with. Just when you think he's back to his best, he stuffs it up," said Baertschiger.
"But he ran a good race at his last start over 1100m. He hit the line really strongly and was beaten only a couple of lengths (by Royal Ruler).
"He's back over 1400m which will suit him better. He's looking for more ground, he's gone over 2000m in the Derby last year, but he wasn't ready for that then.
"The mile is his trip. He's won over the mile twice and over turf, but I think he travels kinder on Polytrack now.
"He's in good shape, but that's the thing with Blue Swede. Will he turn up on the day?"
Baertschiger, who also owns the six-year-old by O'Reilly, has booked his second jockey Matthew Kellady for the Saas Fee Stakes ride.
"The Saas Fee Stakes is not overly strong. Both horses have a chance," he said.
"After that, they will both head towards the Colonial Chief Stakes."
As has been the tradition over the last few years, the Colonial Chief Stakes is the season's final feature race and will this year be run on December 4 at the very last meeting of the Singapore season. -STC
The son of Align dead-heated with the Desmond Koh-trained Order Of The Sun in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes, which is a Polytrack event over 1700m, last year, but Baertschiger believes the 1400m of the $200,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes is more up his alley.
The Australian handler actually has two bullets in the feature race, with the talented but erratic Blue Swede also in the running.
Baertschiger said he could not fault either runner's form, but at least, he knows the element of unpredictability is out of the equation for Best Tothelign, who will be ridden by John Powell who was aboard at his last start when last to Quechua in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy (1800m) on August 7.
"Best Tothelign had a nice freshen-up after his last run. He didn't stay the 1800m," he said.
"He ran a trial last week and he went all right. The drop back to the 1400m will be better for him.
"JP (John Powell) will ride him. He's won five times on him and knows him well.
"If he draws well, I'm sure he will be in with a chance."
Coming off a well-earned break after his Colonial Chief triumph, the MA Racing Stable-owned six-year-old commenced his 2016 campaign on a winning note, followed by two close placings, but fell by the wayside at his last two runs when stepped up to 1600m and 1800m, the latter run in the Chairman's Trophy, arguably his worst performance in his 23 starts at Kranji.
Baertschiger has all along regarded Best Tothelign as one of the best horses he has had under his care. Blue Swede could have potentially been just as good if not better, if not for his habit of throwing the race away at the start and racing ungenerously thereafter.
"Blue Swede is a horse you can't get too carried away with. Just when you think he's back to his best, he stuffs it up," said Baertschiger.
"But he ran a good race at his last start over 1100m. He hit the line really strongly and was beaten only a couple of lengths (by Royal Ruler).
"He's back over 1400m which will suit him better. He's looking for more ground, he's gone over 2000m in the Derby last year, but he wasn't ready for that then.
"The mile is his trip. He's won over the mile twice and over turf, but I think he travels kinder on Polytrack now.
"He's in good shape, but that's the thing with Blue Swede. Will he turn up on the day?"
Baertschiger, who also owns the six-year-old by O'Reilly, has booked his second jockey Matthew Kellady for the Saas Fee Stakes ride.
"The Saas Fee Stakes is not overly strong. Both horses have a chance," he said.
"After that, they will both head towards the Colonial Chief Stakes."
As has been the tradition over the last few years, the Colonial Chief Stakes is the season's final feature race and will this year be run on December 4 at the very last meeting of the Singapore season. -STC