Leading trainer Shane Baertschiger is hoping Aramco draws a better barrier in this Friday’s $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m as the Group 3 winner bids to atone from his last two defeats in the second and third Legs of the Singapore Sprint Series.
The Magic Albert five-year-old was indeed impressive at his mini-upset win in the first Leg, the Group 3 JBBA Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) on April 1, but was caught in no man’s land in both the Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) and Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) after jumping from wide gates.
Granted, the handicap conditions of the Rocket Man Sprint (other two are weight-for-age events) helped a great deal when he came up trumps – he had no weight on his back (50.5kgs courtesy of Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen) – but to his Australian handler, the bad gates in the last two Legs were the main culprits.
Aramco looking to bounce back from his last two unplaced runs in the Singapore Sprint Series, picture Singapore Turf Club
But despite the torrid trips punching the breeze under stable jockey John Powell, Aramco was not totally disgraced.
In the Merlion Trophy, Aramco still closed off nicely as he straightened up, but the early efforts told in the end. He eventually faded to eighth place, four lengths off the winner Distinctive Darci.
With the bigger field in the Lion City Cup, the task was even more insurmountable. After swinging home eight wide, he was soon a spent force as he finished 12th, more than seven lengths off Lim’s Cruiser.
On face value, the runs might have looked below-par, but Baertschiger is convinced they didn’t do justice to his real potential.
An A$750,000 purchase as a yearling for Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa al Maktoum for whom he won one 1600m race under Team Hawkes at Moonee Valley when known as Mawahibb, Aramco has clearly been up to the early hype with a handy record of five wins and four placings in 14 starts at Kranji.
“Forget he ran in the last two Legs. He was drawn off the track and he had no chance,” said Baertschiger.
“He was caught three to four wide the whole way and couldn’t run to his true ability. I think the Polytrack in the Merlion is not really his go either.
“He’s pulled up well since the Lion City Cup and has been working in good order. He won his trial last week (Thursday).
“But he’s also running against that new horse (Noah From Goa) of Ricardo’s (Le Grange), who is a Group 1 winner, and Super Fortune will also be hard to beat.
“I hope we get a bit of rain like now as he likes a bit of sting out of the ground.”
Powell echoed Baertschiger’s sentiments that a pencil must be put through Aramco’s last two runs while hoping the heavens will open up on the day.
“You can ignore his last two runs. He was wide and I had to take him back, and he also pulled hard,” said the Australian jockey.
“I hope he draws well this time. He loves the sting out of the ground, and I hope the rain continues.”
Baertcschiger, who currently tops the table on 31 winners, but only one over reigning champion Mark Walker, has also picked Friday’s race to start two more runners – Lincoln Road and Flak Jacket – but more as a fall-back option.
“The original plan was to run Lincoln Road in the KRA Trophy in three weeks’ time (on July 22), but he was too highly-rated (race capped at 95 points while he is on 98),” said Baertschiger of the Swiss Ace Polytrack expert (all six wins on the all-weather).
“He’s running on turf instead. I had to tweak his training a little to get him ready for that race, but he’s in good form and I hope he goes good. Vlad Duric will ride him.
“Flak Jacket couldn’t get a run last week and he will be running out of his ratings in this.”
The rising eight-year-old by Dane Shadow has seen his rating hover around the 75-80 mark since his last win in September, which leaves the four-time winner “out of his depth” on Friday, according to his jockey, Matthew Kellady.
Bar Elusive Emperor, all the other six entries sit above the 90 mark with top-weight Poseidon on 102 points and Noah From Goa on 99.
“Flak Jacket is not so young now. He has lost his natural speed,” said the Malaysian jockey who rode Flak Jacket to three wins in a row by leading all the way, but four years ago.
“We’ve been riding him off the speed, but if the pace is slow upfront and he has to sit and sprint, it doesn’t suit him either.
“The horse is well, but he is out of his depth in this race.”
Kellady doubted the Geoff Grimish-owned gelding would be the one to give him a bit of a leg-up at this standalone Friday meeting. With 10 winners under his belt this year, the last coming with Baertschiger’s Galileo’s Approach on June 3, the Ipoh-born hoop said he has had an “average” season as half of the proceedings is put astern, though not entire dissimilar from previous seasons.
“It’s been a bit quiet. I feel I’m riding as good as ever, but I’ve not really had many top chances,” said Baertschiger’s No 2 rider after Powell.
“Shane’s always been good to me, and I thank him for his support. He has booked me on three of his this Friday.
“Apart from Flak Jacket, I’m also riding O’What A Feeling and Mr O’Reilly. I’m just hoping one of them can win.”
