By Alan Carasso
Reigning Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) tunes up for a prospective start in the US$6-million G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 25 when he heads to the post for a 1600-metre 'open stakes' at Kranji Racecourse Friday evening.
Trained by Cliff Brown for Glenn Whittenbury's Barree Stable, the 4-year-old dropped the first three starts of his career, but has since rattled off eight straight wins, including the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup (1800m) to close out a season for which he was recognized as the champion of his generation and champion miler in addition to horse of the year. Freshened up for this preparation, the bay resumed with a cosy 1.3-length success over 1400 metres Feb. 10 (video) and figures tough right back from the inside barrier.
If there is to be an upset, it would likely come from the progressive Jupiter Gold (Aus) (Congrats). The A$130,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling grad, five for eight in his career, is using Friday's race as a steppingstone to the final legs of the 3-year-old series, the Singapore 3YO Classic (1400m) Apr. 14 and the Singapore Guineas (1600m) May 14. Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka harbours no delusions of grandeur that he can lower Debt Collector's colors, even with a significant pull in the weights.
“Look, it's Debt Collector, he's a top-class horse. On ratings, he is about 15 kilos higher than Jupiter Gold,” the conditioner told Michael Lee of the Singapore Turf Club. “So, whether [the weight difference] is seven or five kilos, or less, it's still in his favour, but it also gives us a bit of an advantage, a bit of a fighting chance. To be honest, I'm not sure if seven kilos will be enough to make up the difference as on paper, such ratings don't always show the actual difference in class on the tracks. I only know that my horse has pulled up well since his last run (video). His next target is the second Leg of the Singapore 3YO Challenge, and that race on Friday was just a prep run.”
The Friday feature goes as race seven and jumps at 8:50 p.m. local time.
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