Mar 6, 2025

Selvan’s galloper works with gusto on the training track,has the 1,300m up his alley

He is back to his pet distance – the 1,300m – and his rivals had better beware.

Yes, Single Warrior is in a mean mood and raring to go.

A five-year-old by Swiss Ace, Single Warrior was, on the morning of March 5, the star of the show at Sungai Besi.

The track was rated yielding to good.

Winless for Jerome Tan when trained at Kranji, Single Warrior has got off the mark with two wins in five starts at Kuala Lumpur.

He did not win those races but he was close up to the winners at the finish.

He was 2¾ lengths behind So We Fight over 1,400m on Jan 31 and his last start over 1,200m saw him finish fifth to Legend Ninety Two, just 1¼ lengths in arrears.

He is expected to give an improved show, getting back to the 1,300m, the trip of his race-to-race double on Dec 15 and Dec 28.

His trainer, Nick Selvan, would have been pleased with his work on the training track.

Selvan, who saddled Valerie Pegasus to win the third race at Sungai Besi on March 1, was a busy man trackside.

Aside from Single Warrior, he would have been excited with the way Prince Lonhro handled himself in his training gallop.

Taking off from the 600m marker, the New Zealand-bred gelding breezed over the trip in 38sec.

A last-start winner over the Selangor 1,200m on Feb 16, Prince Lonhro was considered a “good thing beaten” in an earlier start on Jan 31.

That day, when ridden by Jackson Low Kang Cheng, the Lonhro five-year-old was shouted the winner when he hit the front at the top of the straight.

But even when frantically scrubbed along by Low, he could not cope with Pacific General’s powerful finishing burst and he had to settle for second spot – 1¼ lengths behind the winner, who had Jerlyn Seow in the saddle.

Prince Lonhro, who races best when allowed to dictate the pace up front, will go over the 1,020m in a Class 4B race slated as Race 4 on March 9.

The trip is ideal and he will jump from a favourable gate No. 2. Expect to see him set a strong tempo and his owners – the Aladdin Racing Stable – will be hoping that early speed breaks the hearts of those behind him.

Selvan would have also been pleased with the way Mr Mondello handled himself in his training gallop.

The five-year-old by Mongolian Khan disposed of the 600m in a leisurely 42sec but you could take it as a statement of intent.

Yes, for the first time in his 11-start career, he gets to race against Class 5A opponents in that 1,400m race marked down as the 10th event in that 11-race programme.

Sure, Mr Mondello is winless after 11 starts but it has not been for want of trying.

He played bridesmaid once.

That was on Jan 11, when he lost out to runaway winner Fountain Of Fame in a Class 4 race over 1,600m in Ipoh.

The one coming up will be over the shorter 1,400m. It will suit him and, as the highest-rated galloper in the Class 5A field, we should see him turn in a good show.

Opposition might come from the Tiang Kim Choi-trained General Cheng – who also showed up with a good gallop on March 5, running the 600m in 40.8sec.

The ghostly-grey nine-year-old by Pitleco has been off the racing scene since Jan 31, when he took third behind Trafalgar in a race over 1,400m in Selangor.

For an old racer, he can still raise a gallop. Indeed, General Cheng prefers to race upfront and, if not accorded the respect which is due, he might just punish his mostly younger rivals.

Source : Brian Miller