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COMMENTARY MAY 17, 2013 Singapore contenders hit the track by Liesl King Standing next to the plastic rail at Kranji Racecourse, in 30 degree heat, with the rain streaming down and flashes of thunder all around may not seem like the best place to be at 5 a.m. on a steamy Singapore morning. I am, however, counting on the fact that the floodlights are metal and taller than me and therefore, theoretically, while looking like a drowned rat, I should be perfectly safe. With three days to go until race day and with the last of the international contenders, the Japanese horse Dasher Go Go (Sakura Bakushin O), having jetted in on Tuesday, it is now all systems go for the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup and the Group 1 Krisflyer International Sprint. While the assembled media huddle undercover, debating whether the media room and coffee is a better bet than the steady downpour trackside, Bel Sprinter (Bel Esprit) won the battle to be first out on the track. With his trainer Jason Warren having arrived overnight, the gelding had an easy workout trotting and cantering on the Polytrack. Warren is happy with his charge, adding that he would prefer a midfield draw as Bel Sprinter can be a bit slow out of the gates. Unfortunately, the racing gods must have been slightly deafened by the thunder and the gelding drew barrier 10 in the 11-horse field. Most of the contenders in both races had already done their serious work earlier in the week and steady canters were the order of the day, with the exception of Red Cadeaux (Cadeaux Genereux) and Balmont Mast (Balmont). Irish raider Balmont Mast quickened up in the home straight to a strong half-pace gallop, stretching out well under rider Declan Quirke. Earlier in the week, the gelding was one of many raiders battling to adjust to the heat and humidity, but he seems to have found his feet. Trainer Eddie Lynam commented that Balmont Mast will stay on the Poly as he gets a bit keen on the grass. A keen Red Cadeaux, on the other hand, is a good thing and despite the downpour intensifying as he came out on the turf track, the chestnut extended up the straight, finishing the last 600 meters in a speedy :39.9. Red Cadeaux may, however, have had to put in a speedy finish just to get back to the warmth of his dry stable with assistant trainer Robin Trevor-Jones explaining that the globetrotting gelding dislikes the rain and had flattened his ears when he was walking out of the quarantine barn. Coming from a country where rain is more the norm than the exception, this might explain why the seven-year-old spends so much time abroad. Despite Red Cadeaux having some opinions as to what can be considered suitable weather for track work, regular work rider Stephen Nicholson was happy with the gelding's work and drawn midfield in barrier 7, he is a serious contender come Sunday. Unlike Red Cadeaux, the Hong Kong pair of Military Attack (Oratorio) and Dan Excel (Shamardal) must have thought they were at home when the rain came down. Both worked at three-quarter pace for 1200 meters on the Poly, followed by a leisurely stroll around the track before heading back to the barn. Trainer John Moore was well pleased when he saw Military Attack put in a buck while working down the back straight as the gelding, who won the Group 1 QE II Cup two weeks ago, had been off his feed earlier in the week. Moore, who had similar problems with Inspiration in 2009, was relieved that Military Attack was finally eating up properly and clearly feeling good within himself. Australian raider Mawingo (Tertullian) and Saeed bin Suroor's Hunter's Light (Dubawi) both did a light canter on the Poly, giving them ample time to eyeball the trackside media. Mawingo appeared in good form, but he is another that has battled adjusting to the heat and trainer Michael Freedman admitted that he was not eating up yet. Cup favorite Pastorius (Soldier Hollow) did two laps at a steady canter, with trainer Mario Hofer on hand to watch the colt for the first time since his arrival. Hofer said that he thought Pastorius looked strong and that he was happy with his condition. The rain, however, scuppered the team's plans of a final gallop on the Poly on Friday, with track rider Cay Bonhoff explaining that due to softness of the Poly, Pastorius will now have his final gallop on the turf instead. The only other horse to grace the turf track was the Japanese contender Dasher Go Go. Pulling hard in the rain, Dasher Go Go cantered a lap with assistant trainer Keiichiro Yasuda on board. Having arrived late, the six-year-old is having another canter on Friday, with a quick sprint up on Saturday. Dasher Go Go lost his traveling companion when Capote Star (Heart's Cry) was withdrawn from the Cup. Trying to come to up with alternative companions, his enterprising team hung a selection of soft toys all around his box. "When I was working for the Canadian trainer Roger Attfield in Florida, he told me about this trick he picked up from a dressage team," Groom and interpreter Hiroshi Ando explained. "He went on to win the Breeders' Cup with a filly named Perfect Shirl, so I thought we'd give it a try." And if his track work is anything to go by, Dasher Go Go really seems to be enjoying his toys.
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