With only three weeks until the Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October, the Steven Burridge-trained Makin is one to watch in the SG$100,000 Class 1 race over 1400m on Saturday at Kranji.
A notable omission from the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on 7 September, Gold cup nominee Makin has been freshened by his canny Australian handler after a tough campaign this year that included three placings at Group level.
Makin (Manoel Nunes) seen here at his last win in a Class 2 race on 30 March (Pic – STC)
His most notable run was a head-second behind Lim’s Saltoro in the Gr1 Singapore Derby on 21 July, but after a taxing run last start where he ran fourth to Lim’s Saltoro in the Gr1 Raffles Cup on 11 August, Burridge has decided on an easier path for Makin before his goal on 5 October.
“He had a lot of hard racing,” he said of the five-year-old son of Written Tycoon.
“So I think the 1400m in this company would be the better option for his Gold Cup chances.
“It was almost impossible to beat the good Lim’s Kosciuszko at level weights in the QEII Cup, so we took that into account too.
“We were probably running for the minor prizemoney and if he had a gut-busting run carrying that weight against those horses, it would not have done his Gold Cup chances any good. You have to pick your battles and worry about the big prize.
“So, we race over seven furlongs on Saturday in a small field and he will only carry 54kgs. Hopefully, he does his best work late and pulls up a treat.
“Jockey Manoel Nunes will ride him on Saturday but no rider has been booked for the Gold Cup until we see what weight he gets, or more to the point, what weight will they give Lim’s Kosciuszko (the top-rated horse).
“But regardless, he will have a light weight in the Gold Cup; probably 51.5kgs or 52.5kgs. While he’s a query at the 2000m, he showed in the Singapore Derby he can fight it out with good horses over 1800m, so we go in with some hope.”
Interestingly, Makin will be among one of four in the small six-horse Class 1 field that has been nominated for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
Pacific Vampire, Big Hearted and Big Union will also have their final hit-outs before the last feature race at Kranji.
That was a point not lost on Burridge, who also saddles the top-weight (59kgs), Ghalib (x I Am Invincible), in the same race.
“There are some good horses with no weight in the field, so I will claim the full four kilos with apprentice jockey Sazali Ramli,” explained the 2010 Singapore champion trainer.
“Sazali knows Ghalib well and is in winning form. You can’t give Pacific Vampire (52.5kgs) and Big Union (50kgs) six-and-a-half and nine kilos respectively.
“But with those Gold Cup horses in the field, it will be a good test for Makin and we really need him to be running through the line while we aim for the Gold Cup on 5 October.”
For Nunes, it will be a “wait and see” if he will ride Makin in the Grand Singapore Gold Cup or watch on come the last Group 1 race to be run in Singapore.
“I would love to have a ride in the Gold Cup,” said the Brazilian champion hoop.
“But I have to wait and see what weight Makin gets and that depends on the top weight obviously.
“But we focus on Saturday first and I’m really happy with how he is going. I rode him this morning and he is nice and fresh for 1400m.
“I think it was a good plan to skip the QEII Cup at level weights as this race looks like a better option for him.
“Pacific Vampire is flying and will lead but there is a question mark on him over 1400m. Trainer Jerome Tan’s Big Union is in very good form as well, so this will be an excellent test.
“Makin needs to hit the line strongly and hopefully, I get the chance to ride him one more time in the Gold Cup.”
Nunes is also not giving up on a historical sixth Singapore champion jockey’s title even if both he and leading jockey Bruno Queiroz drew blanks last Saturday.
“There was nothing last week but I didn’t lose ground and we still have three meetings to go,” said Nunes, who sits second on 51 wins now, just two shy of Queiroz.
“Hopefully, I can ride one or two winners this Saturday and a couple of trainer Donna Logan’s look like good chances.
“Charminton (x Charm Spirit) is very consistent and should be in the finish in his race (in the SG$50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m).
“I rode Elliot Ness (x Written Tycoon) first-up after a long break (finished fourth in a Class 4 race over 1100m on 18 August) and I think he can go close too (in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1100m).
“The fight for the champion jockey’s title could go to the last day, which will be exciting!”
The first on Saturday at Kranji is due off at 06h30.
