This time last year Singapore Sling (124lb) was in the front rank of his peers on the road to the BMW Hong Kong Derby and in the G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 January) the bay will aim to deliver a reminder of his talent and potential.
Trainer Tony Millard’s charge won the Four-Year-Old Classic Series’ second leg, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), 11 months ago and bookended the three-race challenge with runner-up finishes in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Derby itself. Without a win in five runs since that Classic Cup score, Singapore Sling now gets his first chance to stride out again over nine furlongs.
“I think this is his distance,” Millard said, suggesting that a good run this weekend could prompt a tilt at the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m in three weeks’ time.
“Yes, we’re looking that way because the mile is a little bit on the sharp side,” he explained. “I think the other horses in the 2000-metre division are tried and tested, it’s their distance, but it’s thin pickings and that could be a factor when we get to the backend of the season.”
Singapore Sling prepped exclusively at a mile this past autumn, running a half-length second to Beauty Generation in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m), fourth in the G2 Jockey Club Mile and then ninth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
Karis Teetan was in opposition on each of those occasions but the Mauritian ace is looking forward to partnering the Philanthropist gelding for the first time on Sunday.
“Last time he ran into some trouble which meant that he couldn’t finish off,” he said. “He’ll want a little bit farther and I think this 1800 will give him a better chance. In the Hong Kong Mile he was up against some very good horses and he was always chasing them. This distance will help him find his momentum a bit better so he can finish off.”
