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Trainer Michael Freedman is hoping an older Mr Big will be able to pass his first test over 1400m with few issues on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
In 24 starts, including one in Malaysia and one in Dubai, Mr Big has never stepped out of his 1000m to 1200m comfort zone, winning 10 races, seven of which came in 1200m races, including three at Group 3 level.
But the former juvenile champion, who will be having his first start as a five-year-old in the $200,000 Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) on Sunday, is deemed ready by Freedman to finally explore uncharted waters over more ground, even if his form has dipped this year, with no wins in five outings thus far.
Things were on an upward spiral for the son of Elusive City when he conquered the racing scene across the Causeway with a dominant win in the RM 1 million Malaysian 2012 Magic Millions Classic Open (1200m) in Penang last December before he ran a cracking fifth to South African champion Shea Shea in the US$ 1 million Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) at Meydan, Dubai last March.
A brave second to star stablemate Super Easy in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) first-up on home soil kept the run-up towards further heights on the road, but he then probably ran his worst race in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m), followed by two recent defeats.
Freedman, however, remains confident a longer trip can rekindle the $1.3 million earner’s winning flair again.
“He’s older now and I thought it was time to step him up to 1400m,” said the Australian handler.
“I also thought given there are so many Weight-for-Age races around, I might as well make use of them instead of going around with 59kg.
“We freshened him up after his last run (July 26) and he’s been working well since. Corey (Brown) galloped him on Wednesday and he was very happy with the way he went.
“It will all depend on the speed of the race. A slower tempo will suit him better.”
The loss of form of Mr Big, whom not many people would disagree, has been after Super Easy the best horse Freedman has trained since moving to Singapore in 2008, has been noticeable, but Freedman is not sounding the alarm bells yet.
“After he ran terrific in the Lion City Cup, you can argue he has gone horribly out of form. He pulled up with some issues after the KrisFlyer,” he said.
“He was then first-up on Poly in an 1000m race, but things did not go his way. He was out of sorts, didn’t jump that well and kept chasing all the way with a big weight.
“Mind you, he ran good in Dubai over that trip, but interestingly, you will realise 1000m has otherwise not been that great to him.
“But he seems in good order and I hope he will bounce back to form on Sunday.”
Besides Mr Big, Freedman also saddles stable stalwart Nandowra in the Jumbo Jet Trophy, a race he won last year with Super Easy.
Nandowra, a prolific moneyspinning ($916,000 in stakes won) son of Savabeel, was denied his 10th win at his last start when denied a neck by Flax in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) and is now back in trip.
“He’s such a consistent genuine racehorse and will be first-up fresh since his good run in the Chairman’s Trophy,” said Freedman.
“Whilst 1400m is a bit sharp, he will be running on. The Weight-for-Age conditions will suit him.
“As (regular partner) Manoel (Nunes) is riding Speedy Cat, I have booked Alan Munro for him and I’m sure he will give him a great ride.”
Other than his Jumbo Jet pair, Freedman will have several irons in the fire this weekend, especially Sunday when his talented Mummify Stable duo of former juveniles Desert Fox and Bogart do battle in separate races.
Desert Fox, a super second to War Affair in the Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) on July 28, gets a chance to exact revenge on the Mark Walker-trained champion two-year-old in Sunday’s $100,000 Premier Racing Partnerships Stakes, the first Leg of the inaugural More Magic 3YO Championship, while Bogart will face an easier task in the $65,000 Graduation Happy Valley Stakes (1400m) five races earlier.
“Desert Fox was unlucky in the Group 2 race. He has trained on since he was freshened up at the end of July,” said Freedman. “War Affair will be again hard to beat, but I hope my horse can turn the tables on him.
“Bogart will appreciate the step-up to 1400m. I don’t think he appreciated the Polytrack at his last race, which he still won, but I think he’ll be more comfortable on turf.”
Freedman sends out only a small team of two horses on Friday night, Texan Takeover in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 89 The Austcham Cup (1200m) and newcomer Mayweather who will run in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden The Qantas Stakes (1200m).
Though Texan Takeover, a three-time winner, has gone off the boil of late, his handler is not giving up on seeing him revitalised.
“He had no luck at his last start, was posted four wide, but still came on well in the end,” he said.
“He’s coming down in grade and A’Isisuhairi’s (Kasim) two-kilo claim should help. I’m hoping he can run a good race.”
Freedman, who is known for his solid strike rate with his debuting youngsters, is setting great store by Mayweather, a New Zealand-bred three-year-old by one of his favourite stallions, Darci Brahma.
“Mayweather seems to be a nice horse, but unlike the other speedier jump-and-run Darci Brahmas’, he seems to be more of a miler type, something like Super Junior in a way,” he said. “I bought him myself at the Breeze-Ups in Karaka last year as he had a nice action.
“I’m happy with what he’s done so far. He ran a nice trial two weeks ago (August 13), but whether he is sharp enough for a 1200m remains to be seen.”