The longer the better is how jockey Ruan Maia assesses River Radiance’s (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) chances of success in the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, but that doesn’t mean he can’t spring a surprise in the shortest Leg in the Silver Bowl (1400m) this Saturday.
The Brazilian rider partnered the son of Rip Van Winkle for the first time at the gelding’s last start in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on February 15 when they steadily gained ground on eventual winner Fame Star (Twirling Candy), only to come up short by three parts of a length.
Not only the Silver Bowl’s extra furlong will be a welcome variable for the Mok Zhan Lun-trained four-time winner this Saturday, but so will the same incremental increase at the next two Legs.
“He ran on nicely at his last start. It was his first time on turf, but he came from the back to finish second,” said Maia.
“It was a 1200m race and I had to push him a bit to stay in touch. This time it’s going to be 1400m – a few horses have speed, but I will be able to steady him up more easily.
“He’s a horse who takes a while to get going as he has a long burst. He’s a Derby horse, he will get better over more ground, but he still has a chance on Saturday.
“I galloped him this morning and he’s very well. I really feel that he has improved since the last time I rode him.
“As he ran only once on turf, I think he’s a horse who can still improve.”
The two-time Macau champion jockey is no stranger to feature race success at Kranji or for the owner, Mr Ho Pui Kim – even if the two are mutually exclusive for now. He gets a chance to combine both this Saturday.
Maia famously won his first Singapore race at his very first Kranji ride in 2018 – the Lee Freedman-trained and Hong Kong-owned Circuit Land in a feature race to boot, the Chairman’s Trophy (1600m).
He did claim a feature race for Mr Ho, but it was in Macau – River Control (Choisir) for trainer SH Cheong in the 2018 Macau Gold Cup (1800m).
“I rode for Mr Ho many times in Macau, including winning the Macau Gold Cup with River Control. He was the first to support me when I came to ride in Singapore, both at the short visits I made here and now,” said Maia.
“He knows me well, and as I’ve done a good job for him, he supports me with his horses here.
“I haven’t won for him here yet, and it would be great if I can do it with this horse.”
A winner exclusively on Polytrack (between 1100m and 1200m) thus far, River Radiance has stamped himself as a progressive sort with meritorious runs in open company at his last couple of starts.
Saturday’s run will be another test as he takes on his own age group at level weights for the first time.
