Magnum
| English trainer James Peters has not had much luck since taking over from his former boss Michael Freedman three weeks ago, but hopes Magnum can turn things around on Sunday. Peters saddles the son of Per Incanto in the second Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the $350,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m, a trip he believes is more up the gelding's alley compared to the 1200m of the first Leg, the Group 3 Dester Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint on March 27 when the Alwin Tan-trained Conflight stole a march on him. Magnum, who then raced under Freedman's name for one last time, was caught three wide without cover, took a while to warm up to the task and when he did, it was too little too late. After stacking up the speed upfront, Conflight had plenty left up the sleeve inside the last 300m to eventually repel Magnum's challenge and score with half-a-length to spare at the wire. Four weeks have since elapsed. While the change of trainer's name was only on paper, Magnum's improvement on the tracks was also noticeable. "Magnum's pulled up well after his last race. I've kept him ticking over, as he's a pretty fit and athletic horse and doesn't need a lot of work," he said. "He was looking for more ground in the first Leg. It was a funny sort of race where they anchored the pace, he didn't quicken as expected. "He's got big strides and I have no doubt he will be better over 1400m and the mile, but he needs a genuine pace." While Peters and connections, the Waterford Stable, had been rubbing their hands in keen anticipation of the two longer Legs, the horror gate in No 16 has spoilt the mood. "We will need a lot of luck from that gate. Corey (Brown) will have to do his homework and hopefully he can find a spot," said Peters. "It's not only a big field, which doesn't help, but it's also a very competitive field. There are eight or 10 who can win that race. "Mr Scorsese is obviously a big danger and he's drawn a good barrier in three, but then you have those who didn't have much luck in the first Leg, like Nova Strike and Infantry who both got held up and didn't get a clear run." |