Well Done has given trainer Shane Baertschiger a bit of a roller-coaster ride in the last couple of weeks, but such highs and lows are part of the racing game, and the Australian handler is happy to still have a good shot at the Kranji Mile this Saturday.

Two weeks ago, owner Jason Goh rang him to tell him Well Done was moving to his yard from David Kok’s. The Falkirk six-year-old won the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) and Group 1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) for Kok’s two biggest wins in 2016, but has not quite recaptured the same form after being plagued by various leg issues.

As much as such stable transfers can be a bit of a hushed-up sticky issue among fellow trainers, especially for high-profile horses, Baertschiger suddenly had two runners for the $1.5 million Invitational Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on May 26, as he had all along pencilled in the new revamped race for Preditor.

But in another twist last Saturday, those grand plans were dashed when an old injury came back after Well Done’s track gallop last Thursday. Vets saw chips in his off-fore fetlock from X-rays two days later – and immediately recommended surgery, which meant the Kranji Mile dreams were over for Well Done.

Baertschiger felt sorry for Goh – who also moved Group 3 New Year Cup winner Speedy Dragon from Kok to him - as the clothing businessman is always keen to have a runner in such glamour events. Last year, Well Done was being set for the same Kranji Mile, then worth $700,000 and was the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, as well as the third Leg, the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m), but suspensory issues to his other leg curtailed those plans.

“It’s one of these things. After a horse had surgery, especially to this type of injury (fetlock chip), there is always a good chance it will come back,” said Baertschiger.

“It’s a big blow for us and Jason, but the horse can come back. He had surgery today and he will go for a two-month spell after that.”

Moving on, the Australian handler who is the current table-topper on 26 winners and also saddles three other horses in the other two Group 1 events on May 26, Aramco and Paparazzi in the $1 million Lion City Cup (1200m) and Be Bee in the $1 million Singapore Guineas (1600m), would rather have a halved two-pronged attack than none – especially when the last bullet left is no pushover despite not being as credentialled as Well Done.

“It was a huge run from Preditor in the Group 2 race (Chairman’s Trophy) considering he was on a one-week back-up,” said Baertschiger who also owns the Savabeel five-year-old.

“He finished just 1.1 lengths off the winner (Circuit Land). He has kept thriving since.

“It doesn’t matter how the track plays. He has won on grass and Polytrack and can handle any going.

“We’re throwing him in at the deep end, but I’m happy with the way he has come along. It’s a pity Well Done won’t run, but this bloke is more than a worthy runner for us.”

Preditor, who won two races (1400m and 1818m) in New Zealand for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, will be ridden by jockey John Powell who has partnered him at three of his four wins, including the last two starts. The last one was that fourth place in the Chairman’s Trophy on April 27 while the previous run saw him score a resounding win in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m one week earlier.

“I’ve always had a high opinion of this horse. He’s been going well in his trackwork and he went really good this morning in his track gallop with Matty (Kellady),” said Baertschiger.

“It’s a big test, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”