Thursday Trackwork: Singapore ‘Zu’

by Alan Carasso

Not all that far from Kranji Racecourse, east of the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE, not to be confused with the BQE) sits the Singapore Zoo. The story of Thursday morning trackwork three days ahead of the CECF Singapore Cup was another ‘Zu,’ the Jason Warren-trained 3-year-old colt Zululand (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who sparkled in a piece of fast work over the Polytrack, flashing home full of energy. More on that in a minute. 

When last we met, I was setting my alarm for 4 a.m. to join the China Horse Club’s Michael Wallace, Warren and French conditioner Francis Graffard for the ride up to Kranji. Somewhere around quarter ‘til three, I was awoken by flashes of lightning and heavy rains, which came this time, as predicted. Horsemen and women are a hardy sort, so there was little doubt that the show would go on, and so it did. 

After being denied access to the ‘International stables,’ i.e. quarantine barn, the horses began to walk the shedrow and emerged from the barn as the clock struck five. First out was Parranda (English Channel), who continues to make a good impression. A clean and well-bodied chestnut, the Christophe Clement trainee looked well within herself and showing no signs of fatigue following the long trip from the States. The highest-rated galloper of the nine entered for Sunday’s 1800-meter test around a single turn, Parranda will have the services of Christophe Soumillon this weekend. A French connection of sorts. 

Graffard, whose base is in Chantilly, walked around to the front side of the track through increasingly heavy rain to supervise the work of his CEFC Singapore Cup starter Summer Surprice (Fr), one of three runners in the race for Le Havre (Ire). Summer Surprice, owned–like Parranda–by the division of the CHC known as Prince Racing, registered the biggest win of her career to date in last year’s Listed Grand Prix du Lion d’Angers. Hailing from the female family of Group/Grade I winners Zafonic (Gone West), Reams of Verse (Nureyev) and Midday (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the elegant chestnut galloped smoothly on the grass Thursday in the company of Ming Zhi Cosmos (Fr) (Duke of Marmalade). Trained by Nicolas Clement, the 4-year-old filly has accompanied her compatriot to the track for the last couple of days and is the mount of top local jockey Manoel Nunes this weekend. Ming Zhi Cosmos carried the colors of CHC President Teo Ah Khing to a popular victory in the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani at the San Siro last September. 

As the rains continued to pelt down, Jason Warren made his way to the front of the track and was all smiles as Zululand finished his hit-out with gusto. 

“It hasn’t been easy to get here, but the horse has traveled really well and I’m really happy with the way he looked this morning,” Warren told RSN Radio. “It’s a great opportunity for me to have a nice horse in a big-money race, so it’s a good result.” 

Zululand will be having his first start for the Warren barn this weekend, having previously been conditioned by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig. The first foal from 2009 GII Comely S. winner Dream Play (Hennessy), the bay won the G2 Sires’ Produce S. at Flemington last March and was runner-up in the G1 Champagne S. to close out his freshman season. He’ll run first-up for over four months Sunday, and Warren knows the task ahead is a difficult one.

“It’s a tough race. I’d be more comfortable if it were a 1400-meter race,” he admitted. “I’m still getting to know the horse. People that know him know he’s not the easiest horse to train.” 

Whether Sunday’s distance is suitable or not is the $3-million question, but the John Thompson-conditioned duo of G2 Prix Chaudenay hero Auvray (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and fellow stayer Orbec (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) also caught the eye while galloping on the course proper Thursday morning. 

“They’ve done a lot of mileage [from France to Australia to Singapore] and it’s just a matter of whether they can bring their ‘A’ game to the races,” Thompson told RSN. “Auvray is definitely the better horse. [Jockey] Corey Brown has given a glowing report and hopefully he’s right for Sunday.” 

Auvray topped the Arqana Arc Sale on a bid of €800,000 a handful of hours after winning the Chaudenay, while Orbec, victorious in the Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine over 2500 meters at Deauville in August, fetched a bid of €600,000, third-highest at the auction. 

Thompson also conditions G1 Coolmore Flight S. victress First Seal (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for the China Horse Club.

My Option (Belong to Me), the second of the Christophe Clement trainees, and Bajan (Speightstown), who will be saddled this weekend by Roger Varian, kept each other company during a routine turf gallop under the supervision of Thomas Brandebourger. 

Trainer Michael Freedman said that 2013 Longines Singapore Gold Cup hero Tropaios (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) was in fine shape a day after doing his final serious piece of work.

A Morning at Kranji…
I know that it’s snowed in the Northeast and that it’s about to get cold there, and I am equally mindful that the thermometer in Central Kentucky Thursday morning reads double digits below zero. I am NOT going to bitch about a little rain. As I explained above, it came down in not-atypical heavy fashion there for a while, and the situation was exacerbated by my not being allowed to enter the stables. I was also frustrated by my inability to decide whether to wear shorts or jeans. I went with the latter. Not smart. Because by the end of the morning, they were soaked to just about below the knees. And the one pair of socks–from two that I packed (?)–were moist to say the least.

Anyways, a little precipitation wasn’t going to kill me. One thing about Singaporeans is that they seem prepared for situations like this where foreigners are not equipped for the rain and they have umbrellas at the ready. We picked one up from the hotel–after our driver nearly took out a really slick Ferrari backing up–and then a worker at the track was kind enough to hand one off to Michael Wallace, who graciously stuck with me even though he probably should have gone in to have a real close look at his horses. So, tip of the cap, Michael. He was slightly better dressed for the elements, with a vest and shorts and also offered me the umbrella. Also very much appreciated. 

You know, up until 1998 or so, I spent a lot of time at the racetrack. Whether with friends rail-birding while still in Chicago or my once- or twice-annual trips to Keeneland to go racing, I was at least in touch with the horses. Nowadays, I don’t get the chance to go to the track nearly as much for workouts or even in the afternoon. So it’s a rare treat to be able to do so this week, and it was especially cool to be at Kranji Thursday morning. The first hour was set aside for the CECF Singapore Cup runners, and thereafter, Michael invited me along and we hooked up with the China Horse Club’s main trainer Michael Freedman. The brother of Lee Freedman, Michael will have been in Singapore seven years next month, he said, and the Australian has been no stranger to local success. Undoubtedly, and as evidenced by the massive number of trophies and plates in his Kranji office, the best horse Freedman trained in Singapore was Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), winner of 14 of his 20 career starts and out of the frame just twice when unplaced against the likes of Lucky Nine (Ire) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn). 

Now I don’t have a great many friends. That are trainers, I mean. Or maybe I mean the first. Bygones. Freedman oversees a total of 58 horses split between two barns on the Kranji backside. We hopped on Freedman’s golf cart (more on something of a ‘tragic’ ending in a bit) and dove underneath the track and into the infield from which vantage point he could monitor all his horses, whether they be on the trotting ring around the infield lake or one of the many racecourse gallops. Remarkably–at least to me–the conditioner was able to tell us who each one of the horses was, in many cases who the horse was by, in some cases who the dam was. When they started last, where they’ll start next, over what distance and surface. Seriously impressive. 

As the morning went on, we took a spin behind the Freedman barn to a pair of gallops which is uphill and on turf heading ‘north,’ let’s call it, for 1000 meters before turning back the other direction over a synthetic surface. I was also introduced to trainer Cliff Brown, also an Aussie ex-pat. Between the two of them, I felt I was at the Comedy Stop. The highlight of the morning, other than watching horses run around, was the story told by Brown regarding Chinese New Year dinner. I can’t recollect the entire thing. I was laughing too loud. But there was tossed salad (apparently as high as you can toss it), chopsticks the length of your arm, talk about ‘prosperity’ and how one pretends to enjoy this meal/food when really no one (non-Chinese?) wants any part of it. Great stuff, gents. 

Oh yeah, back to the golf cart. We hopped back on after the completion of Freedman’s final set of horses and were just about to the end of the road when a loud pop emanated from under the buggy. I thought maybe someone was celebrating the CNY and threw a firecracker at us. Michael didn’t know what the hell it was and nearly jumped off the back. Jason Warren heard it from who knows where. Well, turns out the front right tire of the cart blew out. Good thing we were right near the farrier. 

From there it was back to the Regent for a little work and a little rest, having been awake basically since 3 a.m. Had our first ‘official’ dinner this evening at the restaurant downstairs and met, for the first time in person, top photog and journalist Liesl King–who’s done good work for us in the past–Paul Haigh, Racing and Sports’ Gary Crispe and trainer John Thompson. So thanks to CHC General Manager Eden Harrington and crew for a nice meal and again, my gratitude to the Michaels–Wallace and Freedman–for showing me around and talking shop. 

Back to trackwork Friday morning. Three-fourty-five. Anyone have any Visine? 

Ciao for now, y’all.