A return to the Colonial Chief Stakes conditions has boosted the confidence in Daniel's camp for an improved run on Friday night.
The Guillotine grey recorded a pulsating win in the Polytrack race over 1700m on the last day of the 2016 season in December, which happened to be his first win in more than a year. The Laurie Laxon-trained gelding's last hurrah came in the one-off SG50 Trophy – which was, however, run over 1400m on turf in August 2015 to commemorate Singapore's 50th birthday.
Assistant-trainer Shane Ellis has every reason to believe a return to Polytrack and the 1700m trip in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race is more than a good omen.
Except for the New Year Cup (1900m) in January, Daniel's four starts this year have been over trips not made to suit. He ran accordingly, even if he did not finish that far behind at his last outing in the mile Open Handicap captured by Time Odyssey on March 26.
"He's back on the Polytrack. We expect him to put in a better run this Friday," said Ellis.
"He's back on 1700m which is more suitable for him, and he's got only 57kgs on his back. It's a winnable race.
"It's only a small field and it is not overly strong. He's a different horse this time and he will run an improved race.
"Don't worry about his last couple of races. We sent him around just to keep him fit as there was nothing else for him."
Colonial Chief Stakes winning partner Glen Boss will ride Daniel again, and was also aboard at a last warm-up barrier trial on Tuesday. He was given an easy time in the 1000m race and ran sixth to The General.
"I was very happy with that trial. We didn't knock him around," said Ellis.
"Bossy was also very happy with him. It will bring him on nicely for Friday."
Though Daniel has scored five of his eight wins on turf, including the Paititi Gold Trophy (1200m) in 2015, Ellis said the alternative track might be the way forward for the Oscar Stable-owned six-year-old.
"Daniel has got flat feet. He can't take it when the track is hard as he won't stretch," said the Perth horseman.
"For that reason, the Polytrack is a kinder surface for him."
On paper, it looks like Daniel faces a stiff task as he lumps the top weight, but the good news is it's only 57 kgs. He does give weight all round to the likes of Time Odyssey (his last-start nemesis), Song To The Moon and Castor, among others, but rightly so, as he is the class act in the race.
Daniel was once rated 103 at the height of his career when he was mixing it with the likes of Emperor Max and War Affair. It tapered off before rebounding to 99 after his Colonial Chief Stakes win but has again dropped to now sit on 95 points
