3 minute read
​Following his impressive debut win, Emerald Hill is bound to have his fair share of admirers when he lines up in Friday night's $65,000 Graduation race (1000m) over Polytrack, but trainer John O'Hara for one will be sweating more over whether he does not get up to his pre-race antics again.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The US-bred three-year-old by Sharp Humor (Distorted Humor) walked in by six lengths at debut in a Maiden race over 1100m on April 27, stopping the clock at 1min 04.56 secs, just 0.01 second outside of the record set by Yin Xin just a week earlier and subsequently lowered by Birthday Gift on May 18.
But O'Hara was more relieved that the gelding did not come undone because of his own cranky behaviour.
“He had just the one start in US but he was not ready yet,” said O'Hara. “But when he came here, he showed a lot of ability with two barrier trial wins,
“But he has proven to be a difficult horse to train. He always needs two or three men to get him on the track and behind the barriers.
“One day he even took charge of the rider on Track 6 and bolted through to the parade area. The rider jumped off and the horse went through the trainer's viewing area.
“Before his debut race, he won't even go on the treadmill and he won't go into the pool.
“But he has improved his manners slightly now. I just hope he won't play up again on Friday.
“He pulled up very well after his last run. I gave him a nice freshen after that and he seems to have come along nicely.”
Emerald Hill, who is raced by the Saratoga Stable, which has many other US-breds such as Always Happy, Greenstone and the now-deleted Power Blitz with trainer Patrick Shaw, will again be ridden by Saifudin Ismail, but unlike the alley he drew at debut, he will jump from barrier No 7 on Friday night.
“He will go forward again, but Laurie's (Laxon) horse, Speedy Ahead is drawn on his inside (barrier No 6),” said O'Hara.
“Hopefully there won't be a speed battle between the two, and it plays in the hands of another horse.”
Other than debut winner Speedy Ahead, Emerald Hill will also be pitted against other handy sorts like Californian Girl and Eatons Gold, both two-time winners.
O'Hara has not set any specific target for Emerald Hill in the immediate future and will restrict him to short sprints for now. On the other hand, the Singaporean conditioner predicts forays over more ground for a second Saratoga Stable newcomer under his care, Flash Gift, who makes his debut on Sunday in an Initiation race over 1100m on Polytrack.
A three-year-old gelding by Green Desert sire Lawyer Ron, Flash Gift will be ridden by South African jockey Greg Cheyne but will however jump from an outside gate (barrier No 10).
“He has had two barrier trials with Joao (Moreira). He won the first, an ORT (Official Race Trial) by more than 11 lengths and ran fourth at the second one.
“He seems ready to put his best foot forward. He's different from Emerald Hill in that he can go over further, probably up to a mile.”