By Alan Carasso
South African expatriate trainer Patrick Shaw will be represented by a quartet of runners as he goes in search of three straight wins in Singapore's richest race, the S$1.35-million Dester Singapore Gold Cup at Kranji Racecourse.
Shaw, who won his first Gold Cup in 2006, will send out the winners of the last two renewals in the form of the Argentine-bred duo of Quechua (Pure Prize) and Cooptado (Equal Stripes). Fifth to his stable companion 12 months back, Quechua has been kept busy this season and will face the starter for the 10th time Sunday afternoon. The 6-year-old has contested each of the first two legs of Singapore's older-horse Triple Crown, finishing a close sixth in the Kranji Mile Oct. 9 before a staying-on second in the Oct. 30 Raffles Cup (1800m) last time out. He is one of many in the field who will appreciate the added real estate of the Gold Cup. Cooptado is winless in his 10 starts since last year's success, but can be forgiven for his last-of-12 effort behind perfect-trip Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City) in the course-and-distance El Dorado Classic Oct. 30.
Mr Spielberg (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), trained by two-time Gold Cup winner Laurie Laxon, has also taken in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, finishing fifth in the Kranji Mile and fourth, beaten under a length, in the Raffles Cup off no pace whatsoever. The tempo of the Gold Cup is unlikely to be breakneck by any stretch, but it could be honest enough with a few early speed types signed on, and that could aid Mr Spielberg in the run to the line.
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