Champion trainer Caspar Fownes made an earlier-than-usual appearance at Kranji Racecourse Tuesday morning to check up on Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) as each gears up for another attempt in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup, resepctively.
At the advanced age of eight, Lucky Nine is back in Singapore as he looks to win the KrisFlyer for the third year running. But whereas he carried strong form into his title defense last year, his runs this year have been more lackluster and he enters off a ninth to Dundonnell (First Defence) in the Sprint Cup at Sha Tin Apr. 26. He was runner-up in that event in 2014, but Fownes is nevertheless optimistic coming into this three-peat attempt.
“Lucky Nine has always had a few niggles, which is normal given his age, but he's won this race twice and always seem to enjoy it when he comes here,” Fownes said Tuesday morning. “He has not been quite up to his form at his last few runs, but I'm sure he will be a different proposition here. You never know with horses. He's in great shape and I hope he can run well again.”
Military Attack won the 2013 SAI Cup when conditioned by John Moore and returned 12 months ago to finish a somewhat disappointing third to his then-stablemate Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal). The 7-year-old joined the Fownes barn this season and won the Sha Tin Trophy H. under a big weight and over a 1600-meter trip short of his best. Runner-up in the G2 Jockey Club Cup and G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in his subsequent appearances, he has since tailed off a bit and exits a seventh in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Apr. 26 after winning that event in 2013 and finishing second in 2014.
“Military Attack is also in good shape,” Fownes commented. “I had to give him a run in that last race or he would have not been fit enough coming into a race like the SAI Cup.”
Fownes also won the 2010 KrisFlyer, when Green Birdie (NZ) (Catbird {Aus}) upset the legendary Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) and sent out Bowman's Crossing (Ire) (Dolphin Street {Fr}) to be third in the 2006 SAI Cup.
Zac Looking to Attack in Sprint…
Singapore-based horses knocked out the KrisFlyer in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012 and they look to be well-positioned to snap Lucky Nine's two-race streak. Zac Spirit (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), third to the Hong Kong raider in last year's race, capped off his serious work Tuesday over the Kranji turf, finishing his final 600 meters in a sizzling :34.1, according to Singapore Turf Club clockers.
“That is his regular Tuesday routine the week he runs. Everything's fine with him,” his trainer Cliff Brown commented.
Zac Spirit was most recently runner-up in defense of his title in the Lion City Cup Apr. 26. He will be ridden by ace jockey Joao Moreira in the KrisFlyer.
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