Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka always looks as cool as a kyuri* no matter what the circumstances, and it’s no different this week as he gears smart three-year-old Jupiter Gold up ahead of his run in the $350,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on Friday.

 

Maybe it’s that nonchalant exterior that gives this impression the Japanese handler is always impervious to pressure, whether it’s a Class 5 race or a Singapore Gold Cup (which he has won a record four times).

 

But Takaoka let in he did have a few moments of anxiety a few days after Jupiter Gold won at his last start in an Open Stakes race over 1600m on March 3.


Jupiter Gold (Alan Munro) at his last win on March 3.

“Jupiter Gold pulled up okay after his last run, but five days later, he had a sore back,” said Takaoka as he flexes his shoulders in a distorting manner to mimick the action.

 

“It was after all a tough race, and I guess he did feel the effect in the end. I sent for the acupuncturist and he’s luckily recovered.

 

“Once he was clear, I brought him back to full training and I have to say the break has helped him a lot.

 

“(Regular partner) Alan Munro galloped him on the main track on Thursday. He went very well.

 

“This morning, he had another gallop. He did two laps, quickening sharply in the last furlong, and did 37 seconds in the last 600m, which was very good.”

 

Known more as a boutique trainer for lack of a better word, Takaoka has never trained big teams at Kranji, and is conscious the Kaz Hosaka-trained son of Congrats is at this stage his stable star, just like triple Gold Cup winner El Dorado, Better Life or Jolie’s Shinju were in the past.

 

But before he definitely put the six-time winner (two coming in the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series as a juvenile last year) in the same elite band, this Friday’s run will give him a better idea where he is at, at least with regards to his peer group.

 

“He’s a very good horse. It was always my plan to skip the first Leg (of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge) as he’s not a 1200m horse, but I have to say the second Leg has a lot of good three-year-olds this year,” said Takaoka.

 

“Mike Clements’ horse (Countofmontecristo) is unbeaten and will remain the horse to beat. Cliff Brown has five horses and they all have a chance.

 

“But my horse is going well. The Guineas is his main goal, and I expect more or less the same bunch running on Friday to be there in the Guineas, but let’s see how he runs this Friday to see where he stands.”

 

Takaoka is also throwing Japanese-bred filly Makanani into the mix this Friday. Even if she most probably start at long odds, he does not think the Masa Otani-owned galloper is a complete no-hoper.

 

“It was after her last run (narrow second to Major Tom) that I started thinking about running her in the second Leg,” said Takaoka.

 

“She’s in good form and she will carry a low weight – 52.5kgs. Derreck David has won on her and knows her well; so he will ride her, and besides he can make the weight.”

 

The filly by Black Tide has had four runs at Kranji for one win in a Restricted Maiden race over 1400m and one second in a Novice race at her last start, when second to Major Tom.