After an encouraging first-up run from his new star stable transfer Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace), trainer Steven Burridge is hoping to see that form hold up this Saturday.
Burridge has penciled in the Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on July 3 as the Swiss Ace four-year-old’s short-term target, with an even bigger catch three weeks later, the Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 25.
But before counting his chickens, Burridge said that Mr Malek must at least reproduce that eye-catching first-up third over 1200m on May 22 in this Saturday’s easier S$85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m to even be considered towards loftier targets.
That first Mr Malek run for Burridge since transferring from ex-Kranji trainer Lee Freedman was anything but push-button. Oscar Racing Stable’s six-time winner was lame when he walked through his new barn.
The root cause was thought to be a nail in the hoof. It was duly treated, with the resulting run suggesting it worked.
“It looks like we’ve got on top of his hoof issues. He did a pretty good job to get to the races from that,” said Burridge who just brought up a revitalising weekend double (Wealth Elite and Chalaza) to spark up his quiet 2021 season thus far.
“I told Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) to ride him where he would travel comfortably. They went hard and he was caught between horses.
“He had no galloping room, but he came through the run very well. I’m very happy with his progress.”
Burridge said he would have preferred 21 days in the lead-up to the Stewards’ Cup instead of one month, but was left with no other choice.
“I would have liked to give him another week so he has three weeks between runs towards the Stewards’ Cup, but there was no suitable race,” he said.
“So we’ve got to run him now. The 1400m will suit him a lot better.
“My only worry is the D Short Course. The track seems to suit leaders better.”
Like many stables facing difficulties in those COVID-19 times, Burridge has seen his string shrink dramatically in recent years.
Mr Malek has suddenly become his one bullet for a shot at feature race glory again, more particularly the race all trainers dream of winning, the Singapore Derby (1800m), even if it’s not part of the famed trilogy of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge for the first time this year (The Silver Bowl was canned).
“Long-term, the Derby is definitely a race we’d like to explore with Mr Malek,” said Burridge.
“I’m not sure if he’s bred to run 1800m, but he won over 1600m once, so you’d think 1800m should not be too hard.”
