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The $75,000 Kranji Stakes C (1200m) on Polytrack on Friday night will give trainer Shane Baertschiger a better idea if the undefeated Bahen can go on to more grandiose objectives at Kranji.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Tale Of The Cat four-year-old, who raced as Mr Cool Cat when trained by Tim Martin in Sydney, is being targeted at the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge - at least the first Leg, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1400m) for the time being.
Bahen has certainly exceeded the young trainer's expectations with two wins from as many starts at Kranji, both on Polytrack. The debut win was registered in a Class 4 race over 1000m before he stepped up to 1100m at Graduation level for a brave win at the expense of Australian Group 2 winner Running Tall.
On both occasions, Bahen (pronounced as “Bain”) was sent out as the second-elect but ending up lowering the colours of the favourites (Californian Star and Running Tall) in a fashion which has spurred his connections on towards loftier targets.
“We'll see how he goes on Friday as it's his biggest test so far,” said Baertschiger. “I may be looking at the Stewards' Cup (1400m) for him further down the road.
“At this stage the 1400m should be no problem for him. He's run up to 1300m back home.
“I will see how he goes and decide from there if he can go for the next leg (Patron's Bowl over 1600m on June 24).”
Baertschiger shrugged off any concerns over the Stewards' Cup (June 3) and the other Legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, which culminates with the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 15, being run on turf.
“The longer trip is a question mark, but not the surface,” said the first-year trainer on the former Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan runner.
“He's raced and won over turf back home. I have no doubt he will handle it well here.
“It's a tougher race this time (Friday's Kranji Stakes C race). He's picked up three kilos (six points) from his last win and will be carrying 56.5 kilos.
“The opposition is also stronger, but he's pulled up very well since his last run four weeks ago. His gallop last Monday was solid – he ran 1000m and clocked 37 seconds over the last 600m.
“Jacky (Low) rode him on that day, but Johnny (Powell) is back from suspension and will ride him on Friday.”
Though Bahen scored his two victories by coming off the speed, Baertschiger would still rather see him draw closer to the inside than the outside.
“He's the sort who likes to sit close to the leading division. I hope he gets a nice draw and can posie up from there,” said Baertschiger of the galloper who runs in the pink and red-hooped silks of his mother Sally.
“He has improved a lot on his starts as well. He missed the start at his debut but jumped okay second-up.”
With nine winners on board since he took over from his father Don last February, Baertschiger is not complaining about the results, though he did take exception to the ride aboard stable favourite Capablanca last Sunday.
“We told the jockey (Zawari Razali) the old boy needs to be ridden off the speed, but he was second and wide throughout,” said Baertschiger.
“It was a bad ride and you can forget that run.”
The ten-year-old $1.6 million stakes earner was rushed forward by the young apprentice to sit outside the leader My Son in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 97 race over 1200m, but was soon a spent force at the top of the straight to beat one home, just under 12 lengths off the winner My Son.
“We'll give him a spell and will bring him back later in the year,” said Baertschiger of the former Lion City Cup winner. “He's not done yet.”