Chris So is leaving no stone unturned as Sing Dragon prepares for Saturday night’s (28 February) G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (1200m, dirt) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

So, the trainer of more than 400 winners in Hong Kong, is tinkering with gear changes, anticlockwise trackwork and gate schooling as he aims to give five-time winner Sing Dragon the best possible chance of claiming overseas success at Meydan Racecourse.

“He’s training well. He will have a jump out from the gates and then run for around 400 metres on Thursday morning (26 February) ahead of Super Saturday,” So said.  

“This way he gets a feel for them (starting stalls) – his gate speed is important. Sometimes, if a horse jumps slow, they face kickback and then stop. He’ll wear pacifiers, too, this weekend. He’s never raced with them, but he trialled well wearing them.”

Pacifiers are a strong black mesh covering worn over the horse’s eyes, aiming to protect from debris and kickback, and Sing Dragon had them on when he was third to Ka Ying Rising on 10 February over 1200m in a dirt trial, clocking 1m 09.21s under Karis Teetan.

So has campaigned two horses to Dubai previously – Fabulous One and Classic Emperor, and both raced twice there, although neither could manage a top-three finish, the trainer hopes the experience holds him in good stead with Sing Dragon.

Six-year-old Sing Dragon is yet to actually race for So, although has made 23 previous starts in Hong Kong for a quintet of wins on Sha Tin’s dirt. The Written Tycoon gelding is raced by The Rotary Club of Gd-HK-MA-GBA Syndicate.

“I took Classic Emperor to Dubai. He stumbled out of the gates and lost the rider. Sing Dragon trialled well in Hong Kong,” So said. “I hope he can perform well, because he must handle two things: track condition and running anticlockwise.

“I galloped him twice going anticlockwise in Hong Kong and both were smooth, but it’ll be totally different when he is under pressure. The surface is totally different in Dubai, and it’s not going to be easy, but I hope he runs well. Karis Teetan rides him.” 

Rich Tapestry, trained by Michael Chang, won the Mahab Al Shimaal in 2014.

Four contests from Dubai’s Super Saturday fixture will be simulcast in Hong Kong, commencing with Sing Dragon’s Mahab Al Shimaal challenge at 11.25pm (HKT).