Champion jockey Manoel Nunes has recovered in time for the ride on Infantry in the $1.15 million Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) this Sunday.
The Brazilian hoop suffered an untimely ankle injury on June 11. He was meant to ride Infantry in the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl, the second Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge on the coming Sunday, but had to give way to Nooresh Juglall (who steered him to a close third to Alibi).
After an operation where a screw was fitted to Nunes’ left ankle the very next day, he was told by doctors he needed three weeks to be back on his feet.
Infantry reunites with Manoel Nunes in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby this Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club
The three-time Singapore champion jockey has recovered slightly quicker than expected as he was back riding trackwork on Friday.
At the barrier trials on Tuesday morning, Nunes confirmed he would jump back on Infantry in the third and last Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge this Sunday.
“My ankle is fine. Obviously, it will get better with more riding, but I’m back this weekend, and I’m feeling great,” said Nunes.
“I’ve got four rides on Friday and five on Sunday, including Infantry in the Derby. I worked him last Saturday and this morning and he worked very well on both days.
“We have worked on his stamina more in the last weeks. We worked him off the 1600m over two rounds and he did it by himself.
“He’s a horse that doesn’t show much in his trackwork and there was no need to give him a squeeze at all throughout the gallop.”
Nunes said he watched the Tavistock four-year-old’s run in the Patron’s Bowl and could not fault Juglall’s handling as well as his horse’s effort.
“I was very happy with the way he ran in the Patron’s Bowl. Nooresh rode him very well, they were just beaten by a very good horse in Alibi,” he said.
“He will again race without the blinkers, just like in the Patron’s Bowl. It’s only in the Stewards’ Cup he had them on as it was over 1400m.
“He’s never gone over 2000m over two turns, but from the way he won the JBBA Moonbeam Vase over 1800m, I don’t think the extra 200m would be an issue.
“He’s a lot more mature now. Alwin Tan and his assistant Joe D’Zulkifliy have done a great job to bring him to the top of his game for the Derby.”
