Trainer Alwin Tan has confirmed that Infantry won’t run in the Raffles Cup next Sunday.

The winner of the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) on October 1, came under an injury cloud when he sustained a deep cut to his near hind fetlock during the race itself.

The appropriate treatment was given, and even if the Tavistock five-year-old is showing good signs of recovery, Tan has decided, in consultation with the Thai owner Krit Chisatteni, to pull the pin on the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) on October 22.

Infantry did a slow canter under race-rider Manoel Nunes on the Polytrack on Saturday. Tan could not fault the workout but with the Raffles Cup coming up too soon, he preferred to err on the side of caution.

 

“He worked okay yesterday, and he is recovering well, but I’m worried that he has missed too many days of work,” said Tan.

 

“It wouldn’t be fair on him to go into a race like the Raffles Cup with such a prep, he would be underdone. He’s too invaluable a horse and it’s not worth risking him for just one race or even the Triple Crown.

 

“It’s very sad but we are doing what is in the horse’s best interests.”

 

The clean sweep in the Singapore Triple Crown series made up of the Panasonic Kranji Mile, Raffles Cup and Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) has not been achieved yet. Tan himself came close in 2014 with War Affair taking the first two Legs but coming up short in the Singapore Gold Cup, which was then sponsored by Longines.

 

“We really thought we had the right horse (Infantry) who could have a go at history, but his welfare is more important than history,” said Tan.

 

“He will still go for the Gold Cup. I will give him another two weeks to fully recover and I will step up on his work, which will be more on endurance.”

 

With Infantry a non-runner, Nunes will now be riding Countofmontecristo for Michael Clements in the Raffles Cup.

 

The ride on the Panasonic Kranji Mile runner-up became up for grabs after previous regular partner Glen Boss was booked to ride Lim’s Cruiser instead.

 

Needless to say, Nunes had some mixed feelings about the sudden twist of fate, but is overall grateful to be jumping on a horse considered as one of the leading hopes.

 

“It was the right decision to pull Infantry out of the Raffles Cup,” said the Brazilian three-time Singapore champion jockey.

 

“The wound is still not fully closed. I gave him a slow canter yesterday, but even though he feels okay, he hasn’t been working properly for a Group 1 race like that.

 

“The horse has been good to Alwin and myself and it’s best we save him for the Gold Cup. The Thai owners totally understand the situation.

 

“By the same token, I’m very glad and grateful to Mike and the owner Joe Giovanni for approaching me for the ride on Countofmontecristo. All the other riders were already booked, and I suppose it was easier for me to get the ride.

 

“He’s a very hard horse to get past, as I found out in the Kranji Mile. The only question mark is the 1800m, but he’s such a quality horse and you have to respect him.

 

“I’ve never ridden him, but I will probably ride him in his work on Tuesday. I’m sure Mike has him ready to go.”