Last-start winner Coming Through (NZ) (El Hermano) is having another go at Polytrack sprint this Sunday, but trainer Desmond Koh said it was not because it was a tried and tested formula or it was his pet surface.
The El Hermano four-year-old’s four wins from seven starts have all come on the synthetic surface, the first three over 1100m and the last one (at his second start in Class 3 company) over 1200m on February 14.
Still, Koh believes the ward belonging to one of his most loyal owners, the Tan Huat Stable, is not a one-trick pony.
Coming Through did race once on turf. It was at his third start, when he finished out of the placings, but Koh said he shouldn’t be judged on that one ordinary run.
“He tried turf once, when he raced third-up. He lost the race, but he was not very well educated then, he was still very green,” said the Singaporean handler.
“You can’t write him off on just one run. Subsequently, he has been winning on Polytrack one after another.
“Don’t fix something which is working, so we left it at that, but if we run out of options one day, we wouldn’t mind bringing him back to grass.
“There was actually a Class 3 race over 1400m on Friday. But between that and a Class 3 over 1200m, I would rather run him over a distance he is proven and has already won.”
While it was French jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin who was booked at Coming Through’s last two starts, Koh is putting Noh Senari back aboard this Sunday.
“Louis rode him at his last two starts and did nothing wrong, and even won on him at his last start,” said Koh.
“But Louis got on because Noh couldn’t make the weight. Coming Through is Noh’s horse, he works this horse a lot.
“He rode him at his last gallop on Tuesday. I was very happy with that gallop.
“He’s pulled up good after his last start, but he’s going to race against a good quality field. All the horses have a chance in the race.”
Coming Through has drawn a middle barrier in six and will do battle against a handy lot made up of the likes of Beau Geste (Street Cry), the downgrader Autumn Rush (Keano), and Salamence (Foxwedge).
Noh was for one looking forward to reuniting with a horse he led to victory at two of his four wins.
“I work on this horse all the time, but unfortunately I couldn’t make the weight at his last two starts (both on 54kgs),” said Noh.
“After he won his last race, his ratings went up, and that’s why I can make the weight (56.5kgs) on Sunday. The horse is working well and I can only hope he runs well again.”
Koh actually has two other “Coming” horses racing in the same yellow and dark blue seams silks, Coming Up (NZ) (Battle Paint) and Coming Fast (Bon Hoffa). While Coming Up was launched around the same time as Coming Through, but has yet to score in four starts, Coming Fast will be at his baptism of fire in the S$20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Friday.
“Coming Fast has not shown much, he’s done a few quiet trials and that’s that. Let’s see how he goes on Friday,” said Koh who has again booked Noh for the ride.
“Coming Through was always the standout in the lot. He showed ability from Day 1.”
