Trainer Cliff Brown has added intrigue to the $1 million Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on Saturday as he saddles the two three-year-olds in the capacity 16-horse field – Mister Yeoh and Zac Kasa.

After weighing up his options carefully, the Australian handler decided to chuck the pair in at the deep end against more seasoned sprinters like Lim’s Cruiser, Countofmontecristo and Distinctive Darci as he thought it would primo, spice Singapore’s premier sprint race up, secondo, the distance is more suitable than the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) which is run on the same day this Saturday.

Both gallopers campaigned in the 3YO series with Mister Yeoh, a son of Wanted, faring the best with a fifth place behind Be Bee in the first Leg, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) before turning the tables on the Shane Baertschiger-trained galloper in the second Leg, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 22.
 

Mister Yeoh (Michael Rodd) at his second-Leg victory in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, picture Singapore Turf Club

Brown then said that neither horse was pressing on to the third Leg, the Guineas, given the mile was a question mark for both.  

On the other hand, the other Lion City Cup had a better appeal.

“Both horses are well and I really think I’ve got two genuine chances. They get a 1.5 kilo allowance each, which brings their weights down to 55.5kgs, which is nice,” said Brown, who also has What’s New in the Singapore Guineas and Elite Excalibur in the night’s highlight, the $1.5 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m).

“I’m happy with the way both have pulled up after their last runs in the Classic, but Zac Kasa has got a tough draw in gate 16 while Mister Yeoh had better luck in gate three.

“This is the first time the Lion City Cup had so many runners and is so competitive. Last year, Lim’s Cruiser was dominant and in previous years, only horses like Emperor Max, Zac Spirit and War Affair stood out in fields of seven.

“This year, you can tell it’s open with so many good chances. Aramco won the first Leg very well, Distinctive Darci is in great form even if he is more of a Polytrack horse.

“Lim’s Cruiser and Countofmontecristo are the two top sprinters, but they’re not the only two horses to beat. It’s really very open.”

Jockey Michael Rodd is staying on Mister Yeoh while Zac Kasa, who was partnered by Rodd at all his starts bar the last one in the Classic when ridden by Vlad Duric, has been handed to Craig Grylls.

The Kiwi hoop related how a touch of luck at being at the right place at the right time has seen him thrusted aboard a good chance in the Lion City Cup.

“Vlad was supposed to ride him in a barrier trial last Thursday, but he was committed to Mr Dujardin (his Singapore Guineas ride) and rode that instead,” said Grylls.

“I was hanging around there and had no rides in that trial. Cliff asked me if I could ride him and I said “yes, of course” and later asked me if I could take the ride in the Lion City Cup, and I was like “yes, for sure”.

“Zac Kasa won his barrier trial very well that day. He has plenty of gate speed, but his wide draw will make it tougher.”

Trainer Cliff Brown has added intrigue to the $1 million Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on Saturday as he saddles the two three-year-olds in the capacity 16-horse field – Mister Yeoh and Zac Kasa.

After weighing up his options carefully, the Australian handler decided to chuck the pair in at the deep end against more seasoned sprinters like Lim’s Cruiser, Countofmontecristo and Distinctive Darci as he thought it would primo, spice Singapore’s premier sprint race up, secondo, the distance is more suitable than the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) which is run on the same day this Saturday.

Both gallopers campaigned in the 3YO series with Mister Yeoh, a son of Wanted, faring the best with a fifth place behind Be Bee in the first Leg, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) before turning the tables on the Shane Baertschiger-trained galloper in the second Leg, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 22.
 

Mister Yeoh (Michael Rodd) at his second-Leg victory in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, picture Singapore Turf Club

Brown then said that neither horse was pressing on to the third Leg, the Guineas, given the mile was a question mark for both.  

On the other hand, the other Lion City Cup had a better appeal.

“Both horses are well and I really think I’ve got two genuine chances. They get a 1.5 kilo allowance each, which brings their weights down to 55.5kgs, which is nice,” said Brown, who also has What’s New in the Singapore Guineas and Elite Excalibur in the night’s highlight, the $1.5 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m).

“I’m happy with the way both have pulled up after their last runs in the Classic, but Zac Kasa has got a tough draw in gate 16 while Mister Yeoh had better luck in gate three.

“This is the first time the Lion City Cup had so many runners and is so competitive. Last year, Lim’s Cruiser was dominant and in previous years, only horses like Emperor Max, Zac Spirit and War Affair stood out in fields of seven.

“This year, you can tell it’s open with so many good chances. Aramco won the first Leg very well, Distinctive Darci is in great form even if he is more of a Polytrack horse.

“Lim’s Cruiser and Countofmontecristo are the two top sprinters, but they’re not the only two horses to beat. It’s really very open.”

Jockey Michael Rodd is staying on Mister Yeoh while Zac Kasa, who was partnered by Rodd at all his starts bar the last one in the Classic when ridden by Vlad Duric, has been handed to Craig Grylls.

The Kiwi hoop related how a touch of luck at being at the right place at the right time has seen him thrusted aboard a good chance in the Lion City Cup.

“Vlad was supposed to ride him in a barrier trial last Thursday, but he was committed to Mr Dujardin (his Singapore Guineas ride) and rode that instead,” said Grylls.

“I was hanging around there and had no rides in that trial. Cliff asked me if I could ride him and I said “yes, of course” and later asked me if I could take the ride in the Lion City Cup, and I was like “yes, for sure”.

“Zac Kasa won his barrier trial very well that day. He has plenty of gate speed, but his wide draw will make it tougher.”

Trainer Cliff Brown has added intrigue to the $1 million Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on Saturday as he saddles the two three-year-olds in the capacity 16-horse field – Mister Yeoh and Zac Kasa.

After weighing up his options carefully, the Australian handler decided to chuck the pair in at the deep end against more seasoned sprinters like Lim’s Cruiser, Countofmontecristo and Distinctive Darci as he thought it would primo, spice Singapore’s premier sprint race up, secondo, the distance is more suitable than the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) which is run on the same day this Saturday.

Both gallopers campaigned in the 3YO series with Mister Yeoh, a son of Wanted, faring the best with a fifth place behind Be Bee in the first Leg, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) before turning the tables on the Shane Baertschiger-trained galloper in the second Leg, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 22.
 

Mister Yeoh (Michael Rodd) at his second-Leg victory in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, picture Singapore Turf Club

Brown then said that neither horse was pressing on to the third Leg, the Guineas, given the mile was a question mark for both.  

On the other hand, the other Lion City Cup had a better appeal.

“Both horses are well and I really think I’ve got two genuine chances. They get a 1.5 kilo allowance each, which brings their weights down to 55.5kgs, which is nice,” said Brown, who also has What’s New in the Singapore Guineas and Elite Excalibur in the night’s highlight, the $1.5 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m).

“I’m happy with the way both have pulled up after their last runs in the Classic, but Zac Kasa has got a tough draw in gate 16 while Mister Yeoh had better luck in gate three.

“This is the first time the Lion City Cup had so many runners and is so competitive. Last year, Lim’s Cruiser was dominant and in previous years, only horses like Emperor Max, Zac Spirit and War Affair stood out in fields of seven.

“This year, you can tell it’s open with so many good chances. Aramco won the first Leg very well, Distinctive Darci is in great form even if he is more of a Polytrack horse.

“Lim’s Cruiser and Countofmontecristo are the two top sprinters, but they’re not the only two horses to beat. It’s really very open.”

Jockey Michael Rodd is staying on Mister Yeoh while Zac Kasa, who was partnered by Rodd at all his starts bar the last one in the Classic when ridden by Vlad Duric, has been handed to Craig Grylls.

The Kiwi hoop related how a touch of luck at being at the right place at the right time has seen him thrusted aboard a good chance in the Lion City Cup.

“Vlad was supposed to ride him in a barrier trial last Thursday, but he was committed to Mr Dujardin (his Singapore Guineas ride) and rode that instead,” said Grylls.

“I was hanging around there and had no rides in that trial. Cliff asked me if I could ride him and I said “yes, of course” and later asked me if I could take the ride in the Lion City Cup, and I was like “yes, for sure”.

“Zac Kasa won his barrier trial very well that day. He has plenty of gate speed, but his wide draw will make it tougher.”