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The Michael Freedman-trained Mr Big has arrived back in Singapore following his fifth placing behind Shea Shea in the Group 1 US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint over 1000m at Meydan on Saturday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The four-year-old arrived back at Kranji around 8am on Tuesday morning following a 12 hour door-to-door trip.
Freedman said the gelding looked to handle the trip back from Dubai in his stride but added he had “lost a little bit of weight, but travelling horses you can expect that”.
Mr Big will spend the next two weeks in quarantine and Freedman said he will monitor the progress of the gelding in the lead-up to the Group 1 $500,000 Lion City Cup over 1200m on April 28.
On arrival at the quarantine block – his home for the next two weeks – Mr Big stretched his legs when taken for a hand walk in the compound before heading to his box.
Mr Big endured two flights in the space of 10 days, flying more than 11,500 km, in representing Singapore on Dubai World Cup night.
“He’ll have a fairly quiet week which will allow him to get over the travel,” said Freedman. “If he’s bouncing around and on his feed then we might start giving him some light work next week.
“We’ll see how he recovers from the trip, but all going well we’ll gear him towards the Lion City Cup at the end of the month.
“After that we’ll have a think about running him in the KrisFlyer next month.”
The International Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint is run over 1200m and run on May 19.
Meanwhile Freedman will saddle three runners in the Group 3 $200,000 Kranji Sprint over 1200m on Friday night.
The Australian conditioner will be represented by Masthead, Texan Takeover and Savannah Dancer in the second Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series.
Freedman said it was difficult to get riders for the three horses which are each weighted on the minimum of 50kg.
Singapore Gold Cup winning jockey Alan Munro takes the ride on Masthead, in-form apprentice A’Isisuhairi Kasim rides Texan Takeover while Manoel Nunes will have the mount Savannah Dancer.
Freedman left the difficult task of finding jockeys for the three runners to his assistant-trainer James Peters as Freedman was travelling back from Dubai when weights for Friday night’s meeting were released.
“It’s difficult to find jockeys when so many horses are weighted on the minimum,” said Freedman. “But James has done a really good job getting three in-form jockeys that can ride light.”
All three runners go into Friday night’s contest fresh, although Savannah Dancer has had the benefit of a barrier trial last Tuesday week, finishing third behind Lindt over 1000m.
“All three horses seem good and bright,” said Freedman. “Savannah Dancer had a bit of a break after her third placing in the Three Rings Trophy (in February) but she did trial nicely last week whilst I was away.
“The other two haven’t raced for three or four weeks but are nice and fresh and have no weight.
“It should be a good race.”