Stephen Gray’s Dubai raider Bahana will have a last run-out this Friday before he sets sail for the Meydan riches.
Bahana, Gray’s 2016 Dester Singapore Gold Cup winner, will run in the Kranji Stakes A Division 2 (1400m) .
The Kiwi handler said Dubai was an appealing option with the paucity of long distance races in Singapore. Bahana is scheduled to leave Singapore on January 28 and is being aimed at a 2000m race on February 8, which is part of the Dubai World Cup Carnival 2018.
Gray said that Friday’s distance will obviously be on the sharp side the NZ bred stayer, but it will still serve as the perfect prep race before he boards the plane.
“Bahana will be ridden by Noh Senari and will get a two-kilo claim,” said Gray whose only previous international experience was with Emperor Max in England in 2015 (seventh to Muhaarar in the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot).
Meanwhile, Gray was seen with his former apprentice jockey Ruzaili Yatim at trackwork on Tuesday morning. Currently based in New Zealand under the Singapore Turf Club overseas placement programme, the rider has come back to Singapore to sort some family issues.
“I’ve ridden 16 winners in New Zealand on the South Island. I wished I rode more winners but all in all, I’m happy with that score,” said Ruzaili, better known as “Smiley”, and is indentured to Christchurch trainer Neill Ridley.
“New Zealand is tough, but I have learned a lot there.”
Ruzaili notched up seven wins (all for Gray) during his formative years at Kranji between 2014 and 2015. He went to New Zealand in June 2016.
Bahana was sold as a yearling through the 2013 NZB draft of Haunui Farm before making $100,000 as a Ready To Run 2yo in the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds. -STC