Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray has been a busy man making phone calls to Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand looking for lightweight jockeys as the last two big racedays of the year approach.
Gray has runners in the two handicap feature races, the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on November 18 and the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20, and with all of them predicted to be weighted at the lower ends of the scale, he went scouring further afield given the dearth of lightweight riders at Kranji.
Hong Kong-based Mauritian jockey Karis Teetan was secured for the ride on Lim's Cruiser in the EW Barker Trophy, while he was able to get top-flight Australian jockey Craig Williams and leading female New Zealand jockey Danielle Johnson aboard Bahana and Newlands respectively.
The three jockeys' short-term applications as well as Joao Moreira's to ride at the relevant meeting(s) on those two days are currently being processed, with the outcome to be announced shortly.
Gray's three horses are normally ridden by Vlad Duric, but as the Australian jockey struggles to ride under 52kgs, he knew from a long way out he would have to give way at their upcoming Group assignments, even suggesting one of the replacements, Williams.
"At first, I asked Glen Boss to ride Bahana, but he told me that the lightest he could ride was 51.5kgs and that it wouldn't do the horse justice, especially in such a race. I really appreciated that from Glen," said Gray.
"Vlad then recommended Craig Williams as they're good mates. Craig needs no introduction; he is a Melbourne champion jockey and is a strong lightweight international jockey who has ridden with success at Kranji before.
"Newlands has always been aimed at the Gold Cup, but he was just flopping around as he does at his last run (third to Mr Fantastic in a Kranji Stakes C race over the mile on October 30).
"(Owner) Paul (Hickman) and I discussed and thought he might not be good enough, but sometimes, those grinders improve at their next run, and who knows, this could be the time for him. Paul said the race was here and he may not get a chance again, so we decided to run him and I asked Danielle Johnson, one of the top jockeys in New Zealand, to ride him.
"Paul's also got Squire Osbaldeston in the Gold Cup and it's Alan Munro, who rode him at his last run (fourth) in the El Dorado Classic, who will ride him again."
As for the EW Barker Trophy ride, the opportunity to book Teetan came about when he learned the recent winning rider of the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Handicap (1800m) aboard Horse Of Fortune on Sunday was in the running to ride at that meeting.
"I don't know Karis Teetan but I heard he was coming here with Joao to ride at the EW Barker Trophy meeting," said Gray who memorably landed the handicap feature race two years ago with Born To Fly on his 50th birthday.
"Again, as Vlad cannot ride Lim's Cruiser, I thought that would be a good ride for Karis, and I'm glad he's accepted.
"The horse was a little stiff at his last run. He's in very good shape and even though it'll be a very strong competitive EW Barker, he should run well with no weight on his back."
A three-time winner by Casino Prince, Lim's Cruiser was an unlucky beaten favourite at his last run, when he got checked in the home straight. Duric unsuccessfully objected against the winner Big Brother. -STC
|
|
|
|
