Mar 12, 2025

Out of action for over a year, former Kranji galloper could surprise when racing fresh

He has got a date with the starter in Race 5 on March 16.

It is the Class 4 (B) sprint over the 1,100m and if Top Field can reproduce the form he showed at the trials on the morning of March 11, he must be marked down as a force to be reckoned with.

Prepared by trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong, Top Field was the most impressive of the six winners at the trials which were run on a track rated good.

Ridden by Andre da Silva and jumping from an inside gate, Top Field was snagged back to sit fourth when the runners cleared that first left-hander.

Up in front, Super Salute, Hateem and Master Baby – a stablemate of Top Field – traded blows for the early lead with Top Field content to stay out of the fray.

Knowing he had a good horse beneath him, da Silva kept his mount on a short rein and only released him at the furlong mark.

Top Field clocked a smart time of 1min 0.32sec for the sharp 1,000m.

With 24 runs to date, the former Kranji galloper certainly knows what the sport is all about and the way he battled to the line also tells us that he also knows that the winning post is the most important point on a racetrack.

Formerly with two-time Singapore champion trainer Jason Ong, Top Field has already won four races for the Happy Baby Stable but is still a work in progress.

Cheng has picked a dicey sort of race for his galloper whose best races are over the longer trips.

But, at this early part of his Malaysian adventure and having not raced for over a year – his last start was on Nov 25, 2023 – he might just pull off something when fresh.

Runner-up in the trial, Super Salute has a huge assignment coming up on March 16.

It is the Group 1 Tunku Gold Cup (1,200m) which is also the first leg of the highly-anticipated and much sought-after Malaysian Triple Crown.

It is a race coveted by owners and trainers and, come March 16, Super Salute should be right there in the mix of things.

The I Am Invincible six-year-old has the credentials.

Nine wins, including two at Group 2 and one at Group 3 level, from 22 race starts, mostly at Kranji, and only thrice has he been outside the frame.

Indeed, his last three starts in Malaysia have produced a second, a third and a fourth.

All were done when being prepared by trainer Parama Veerapen Sivan and, we reckon he will carry high hopes into that big race.

Super Salute’s trial on March 11 was full of merit. With apprentice Fikri Ismail up, he was last to be loaded but the first to jump.

Without much effort, he got into stride and he stayed in front of the pack, brushing aside all rivals until Top Field came grinding up the straight like an honest brawler.

The 2023 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1,400m) winner was caught close home but still stuck to the task and went down by less than a length.

Yes, Sivan has added the polish to his charge and, come March 16, Super Salute will be ready, not to mention multiple Group 1-winning jockey Marc Lerner flies in from New Zealand to take the ride.

Also from the trials, it may well pay to keep tabs on trainer Richard Lim’s Legend Sixty-Three.

There was clear intent in the way he took out the second trial which he won in a fine time of 1:00.84.

Here is how it unfolded. Ridden by Nuqman Rozi, the three-year-old by Shalaa quickly found a spot at the withers of the early leader, Jimmy Zac.

In a show of speed which would have given his rivals windburn, Legend Sixty-Three swept to the front and coasted in two lengths ahead of Jimmy Zac, who had a 4½-length advantage over third-placed Pacific General.

It was Legend Sixty-Three’s third trial in less than a month – and his best showing to date.

Owned by the Legacy Power Racing Stable, Legend Sixty-Three had four race starts at Kranji and won at his second outing on Sept 14 before relocating to Selangor.

That day, with Carlos Henrique up, he beat Bravo Kid by almost two lengths in a 1,100m race.

Yes, we know he races well fresh. So watch for him when he makes his Malaysian debut. He should be easy to spot as he will be the one walking onto the track looking as hard as a brick.

Source : Brian Miller