Bahana
STC
TITANIUM – Barrier No 1
Former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey A'Isisuhairi Kasim was the second-last representative to walk up the stage with only two numbers left up for balloting – the two extremes, 1 and 12.
Logic would suggest he would be hoping for the inside gate, but deep down, he was praying for the outermost alley. When the lovely Dester girl revealed the ball's number, Harry, as he is better known, winced noticeably.
"I wasn't really happy with barrier No 1, to be honest, as he can get a bit keen when he jumps from the inside," said the Kelantan-born rider who won the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1400m) with Titanium in May.
"It's not ideal but after I spoke with the owner (Graceland Stable) and the trainer (James Peters), they told me not to worry too much as there is nothing we can do.
"There should be a decent pace to the race with Time Odyssey and a couple of frontrunners drawn in. He should be able to drop the bridle if the pace is on and hopefully, we get some cover.
"We just have to think positive."
"He will probably be one off the fence and make his own luck from there," said assistant-trainer Shane Ellis deputising for trainer Laurie Laxon who is currently in New Zealand attending the Karaka Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs.
"Titanium has drawn one and may go forward when he sees daylight. There is a bit of speed in three and four and I see him getting back in fourth or fifth.
"All we can hope is for him to get a cosy run. From that barrier, he won't be wide and should be able to get an economical run.
"His lead-up races in the Group races have been perfect for him. He is spot-on for the race."
TIME ODYSSEY, MAJESTIC MOMENTS, QUECHUA and COOPTADO – Barriers No 3, 5, 8 & 10
"There is not much pace in the race, with maybe only Bahana, Laughing Gravy, Time Odyssey and Quechua (2014 Singapore Gold Cup winner) who can go forward," said trainer Patrick Shaw.
"With Time Odyssey drawn better, he should be able to take that spot, while Barend (Vorster) will probably settle in third or fourth on Quechua.
"Majestic Moments should be able to drop in midfield or worse than midfield while we will ride Cooptado quiet this time.
"He never enjoyed the hunting at his last start. We will ride him the same way as last year when he won the Gold Cup."
Jockey Nooresh Juglall, who drew marble No 5 for Majestic Moments, reiterated his wish to break his Group 1 hoodoo with his pet horse.
"I was hoping for four or five and I couldn't be happier with five," said the Mauritian jockey.
"To me, jumping from such a good barrier is half the battle won. It's perfect for him.
"A lot will depend on the pace, but I think I should be midfield or towards the rear. Hopefully we get luck in the running.
"This horse has been so unlucky in Group races. We've been waiting for this 'majestic moment' for a long time."
Oscar Chavez seldom rides for the Shaw yard, and was understandably grateful for the opportunity to sit on one of his quartet of runners, namely Time Odyssey.
"Barrier No 3 seems okay, but I will need to discuss with Pat how he wants me to ride the horse," said the Panamanian-born hoop.
"A lot of people say he is a Polytrack horse but if you look at his Derby race where he led and how far he got beat, only less than five lengths, I think he can handle it.
"I rode him in a grass gallop last Tuesday and he moved very well. I was very happy with his work.
"I'm very thankful for the ride and I hope I can put him in a better spot in the running and let's hope for the best."
LAUGHING GRAVY – Barrier No 4
"Barrier No 4 is fine. It's perfect," said trainer Cliff Brown.
"We are not going to lead. We will sit handy, like what we did in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup."
CHEETAH ON FIRE – Barrier No 6
"We were hoping for barriers four or six and we got six which is just nice," said trainer Bruce Marsh's assistant-trainer Jason Ong.
"He was disappointing at his last few starts, but he worked very well this week. He's come along well since his last start.
"Bruce is happy with him, and Zuriman (Zulkifli) gets along well with him. Hopefully he brings his Gold Cup form of two years back when he ran third.
"We can only hope for a good run."
NEWLANDS, SQUIRE OSBALDESTON and BAHANA – Barriers No 7, 9 & 12
"The two horses of Paul's (Hickman, Newlands and Squire Osbaldeston) have both drawn well, but for Bahana, 12 may not look so good," said assistant-trainer Peter Hutton filling in for trainer Stephen Gray, who is away at the Karaka Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs in New Zealand.
"Obviously, we would have liked to see Bahana draw the inside, but all things considered it's not a bad thing as Craig Williams can look on the inside and make a decision.
"Nine is perfect for Squire as he's the kind of horse who can get intimidated when he's surrounded by horses. Seven for Newlands is also perfect, he can figure what to do and the jockey (Danielle Johnson) has to make a decision at the first turn what's best for him.
"It's a 2200m race and there will be plenty of time to sort yourself out without getting knocked too much around horses. All in all, we're happy with all three draws."
Hickman, who drew for his two runners, shared the same opinion as Hutton.
"It doesn't really matter where they draw as it's a 2200m race with only 12 runners," said the English businessman.
"There are some horses with pace drawn on the inside and who can go forward. Then my two horses can hopefully slot across.
"Ideally, I'd like to see Newlands in the first four and Squire Osbaldeston just behind him. It should be okay."
BLUE SWEDE – Barrier No 11
"It doesn't really matter as he gets back anyway," said trainer Shane Baertschiger's assistant-trainer Scott Bailey.
"The horse is well. He can miss the kick but he jumped well at his last start, he started better than usual.
"Hopefully, he's not caught wide coming to that first corner or it may get tricky from there."
Former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey A'Isisuhairi Kasim was the second-last representative to walk up the stage with only two numbers left up for balloting – the two extremes, 1 and 12.
Logic would suggest he would be hoping for the inside gate, but deep down, he was praying for the outermost alley. When the lovely Dester girl revealed the ball's number, Harry, as he is better known, winced noticeably.
"I wasn't really happy with barrier No 1, to be honest, as he can get a bit keen when he jumps from the inside," said the Kelantan-born rider who won the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1400m) with Titanium in May.
"It's not ideal but after I spoke with the owner (Graceland Stable) and the trainer (James Peters), they told me not to worry too much as there is nothing we can do.
"There should be a decent pace to the race with Time Odyssey and a couple of frontrunners drawn in. He should be able to drop the bridle if the pace is on and hopefully, we get some cover.
"We just have to think positive."
"He will probably be one off the fence and make his own luck from there," said assistant-trainer Shane Ellis deputising for trainer Laurie Laxon who is currently in New Zealand attending the Karaka Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs.
"Titanium has drawn one and may go forward when he sees daylight. There is a bit of speed in three and four and I see him getting back in fourth or fifth.
"All we can hope is for him to get a cosy run. From that barrier, he won't be wide and should be able to get an economical run.
"His lead-up races in the Group races have been perfect for him. He is spot-on for the race."
TIME ODYSSEY, MAJESTIC MOMENTS, QUECHUA and COOPTADO – Barriers No 3, 5, 8 & 10
"There is not much pace in the race, with maybe only Bahana, Laughing Gravy, Time Odyssey and Quechua (2014 Singapore Gold Cup winner) who can go forward," said trainer Patrick Shaw.
"With Time Odyssey drawn better, he should be able to take that spot, while Barend (Vorster) will probably settle in third or fourth on Quechua.
"Majestic Moments should be able to drop in midfield or worse than midfield while we will ride Cooptado quiet this time.
"He never enjoyed the hunting at his last start. We will ride him the same way as last year when he won the Gold Cup."
Jockey Nooresh Juglall, who drew marble No 5 for Majestic Moments, reiterated his wish to break his Group 1 hoodoo with his pet horse.
"I was hoping for four or five and I couldn't be happier with five," said the Mauritian jockey.
"To me, jumping from such a good barrier is half the battle won. It's perfect for him.
"A lot will depend on the pace, but I think I should be midfield or towards the rear. Hopefully we get luck in the running.
"This horse has been so unlucky in Group races. We've been waiting for this 'majestic moment' for a long time."
Oscar Chavez seldom rides for the Shaw yard, and was understandably grateful for the opportunity to sit on one of his quartet of runners, namely Time Odyssey.
"Barrier No 3 seems okay, but I will need to discuss with Pat how he wants me to ride the horse," said the Panamanian-born hoop.
"A lot of people say he is a Polytrack horse but if you look at his Derby race where he led and how far he got beat, only less than five lengths, I think he can handle it.
"I rode him in a grass gallop last Tuesday and he moved very well. I was very happy with his work.
"I'm very thankful for the ride and I hope I can put him in a better spot in the running and let's hope for the best."
LAUGHING GRAVY – Barrier No 4
"Barrier No 4 is fine. It's perfect," said trainer Cliff Brown.
"We are not going to lead. We will sit handy, like what we did in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup."
CHEETAH ON FIRE – Barrier No 6
"We were hoping for barriers four or six and we got six which is just nice," said trainer Bruce Marsh's assistant-trainer Jason Ong.
"He was disappointing at his last few starts, but he worked very well this week. He's come along well since his last start.
"Bruce is happy with him, and Zuriman (Zulkifli) gets along well with him. Hopefully he brings his Gold Cup form of two years back when he ran third.
"We can only hope for a good run."
NEWLANDS, SQUIRE OSBALDESTON and BAHANA – Barriers No 7, 9 & 12
"The two horses of Paul's (Hickman, Newlands and Squire Osbaldeston) have both drawn well, but for Bahana, 12 may not look so good," said assistant-trainer Peter Hutton filling in for trainer Stephen Gray, who is away at the Karaka Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs in New Zealand.
"Obviously, we would have liked to see Bahana draw the inside, but all things considered it's not a bad thing as Craig Williams can look on the inside and make a decision.
"Nine is perfect for Squire as he's the kind of horse who can get intimidated when he's surrounded by horses. Seven for Newlands is also perfect, he can figure what to do and the jockey (Danielle Johnson) has to make a decision at the first turn what's best for him.
"It's a 2200m race and there will be plenty of time to sort yourself out without getting knocked too much around horses. All in all, we're happy with all three draws."
Hickman, who drew for his two runners, shared the same opinion as Hutton.
"It doesn't really matter where they draw as it's a 2200m race with only 12 runners," said the English businessman.
"There are some horses with pace drawn on the inside and who can go forward. Then my two horses can hopefully slot across.
"Ideally, I'd like to see Newlands in the first four and Squire Osbaldeston just behind him. It should be okay."
BLUE SWEDE – Barrier No 11
"It doesn't really matter as he gets back anyway," said trainer Shane Baertschiger's assistant-trainer Scott Bailey.
"The horse is well. He can miss the kick but he jumped well at his last start, he started better than usual.
"Hopefully, he's not caught wide coming to that first corner or it may get tricky from there."