It was a rather sleepy morning for some of the Dubai contingent on, repetitive as it may seem, another steamy Singapore morning. Shadow Gate won the 2007 Singapore International Airlines Cup (G1) and had been winless following that until a 13 March win in the Toyota Sho Chukyo Kinen (G1). The Yukihiro Kato-trainee claims Shadow Gate the best he has ever conditioned, but this White Muzzle-entire, now eight-years-old, will have his work cut out for him over a field that is clearly in greater form.
Hong Kong’s Happy Zero, a major chance holder in the 2010 Kris Flyer International Sprint (G1), galloped with aplomb on Thursday morning. Trained my John Moore, he was a strong second when well backed in the 2009 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (G1) behind Good Ba Ba. As his international rating has slowly climbed, he has never been worse than three lengths off the winner in his last eight starts and seems in fine fettle in his first try outside Hong Kong.
Rocket Man, second home in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), galloped over the Polytrack in his track return following a strong Tuesday session. With Robbie Fradd aboard, Rocket Man stretched over 1,500 meters and turned back without a hair turned. While Fradd was long criticized for his patient ride on the Singapore superstar in Dubai, the expectation is that he will be a monumental favorite for the big race.
Gloria De Campeao, winner of the 2010 Dubai World Cup (G1), was even in his Polytrack gallop, Thursday. While the connections declare him in typical form, the biggest question surrounding the defending race champion involve his new jockey, Bruno Reis. A series of unconfirmed reports indicate that changes in racing management meant Tiago Pereira was replaced. Reis, whose career has been spent almost entirely in Brazil with some top class group race success. The scene at Kranji will be considerably different for Reis and the replacement leaves many thinking that this new partnership might need time to blossom.
Who will make it to the winning post, down the straight at Kranji, first in the big race on Sunday?
