Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray is deploring the lack of staying races at Kranji as he is left with no other alternative than to drop El Don back to a distance not made to suit on Sunday.

The Don Eduardo five-year-old scored his last two wins over 2000m in Class 4 company, ridden on both occasions by Glen Boss, losing no friends at his last outing with an eye-catching fourth to Chairman in the Hello New York Stakes, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1 ¼ mile as well, on Derby Day on July 9.

Though it may be a bit of a longshot at this juncture, Gray sees El Don as potential Singapore Gold Cup material, but with his rating in the lower band at 59 points, more distance races would have been welcomed in a bid to earn more points.



El Don en route to victory in a Class 4 race over 2000m two runs back, picture Singapore Turf Club

The 1400m of Sunday’s $60,000 Class 4 race is not quite the mileage Gray had in mind for the Rajah Blue Stable ward, but he has to make do with what is available.

“El Don is a good stayer. He’s won a few good ones,” said Gray.

“The seven furlongs are not ideal, it’s obviously too short for him. There is a 1800m race in three weeks’ time but he had to start somewhere if he needs to get in the Gold Cup at a light weight.

“The problem is we don’t have many distance races in the lower divisions leading up to the Gold Cup. It can be a bit tricky, but I hope he can still make the cut.”

“It’s my boy Amirul (Ismadi) who rides him this time. The two-kilo claim is good for a stayer fresh-up over shorter distances.”

Gray also saddles Reddot Rising in the 1400m race. The Nadeem five-year-old is second-up after an encouraging run (closing eighth in a similar race on July 21) better suited by the trip, which probably went some way in also explaining El Don’s winning partner at his last two wins, choosing Reddot Rising instead.

“I’m not riding El Don this time around as the 1400m is a bit short for him. We are aiming him for a 1800m race in three weeks’ time,” said Boss.

“But he’s going really well. He’s a lovely horse with a very good turn of foot when he settles down the back, but whether he is a Gold Cup horse, we’ll have to wait and see.

“I rode Reddot Rising at his comeback from a layoff and he will be fitter for the run.”