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Australian jockey John Powell could not be happier with the very first ride he accepted to take in this Sunday’s $300,000 Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m), A La Victory, even if a few more choice rides landed on his plate later.
The heavyweight rider, who is not booked all that often by James Peters, was offered the ride on the China Horse Club-owned gelding by the Englishman last week.
Shortly after, two more trainers approached Powell. Trainer Mark Walker checked if he was available for Polytrack champion My Lucky Strike and a few minutes later, Laurie Laxon rang up for last year’s champion three-year-old Affleck.
They were certainly not second-rate chances; any jockey would love to sit on either in a Group 2 event, but Powell is a man of his word and had to politely decline. He was duty-bound to the first person he had committed to.
Affleck will in the end be ridden by Laxon’s apprentice jockey Rueven Ravindra while My Lucky Strike will have Brazilian jockey Antonio da Silva on board.
“I was given the rides on My Lucky Strike and Affleck, but I’ve already said yes to James I would ride A La Victory and I’m very happy with my ride,” said Powell who has never ridden the Alamosa four-year-old until a barrier trial last Thursday, which they won.
“He trialled very well last week. He was a bit heavy and James wanted to give him a bit of a blow.
“He was bright and he just coasted to the line easy. We all know he’s a horse who can pull hard but he was great in his trial, no drama at all.”
Powell jumped back on A La Victory on Wednesday morning for his last piece of work and was again complimentary of his action.
“I worked him this morning and he was spot-on for Sunday,” he said.
“I was hoping for an inside draw and barrier No 4 is just nice. He will fall out over his neck and that’s exactly what I wanted.
“It’s all about getting him happy wherever he is as he can get off the bridle and pull hard. With the right run, I think he can finish in the first four.”
Whether Peters, who also saddles Spanish Bay (Shafiq Rizuan) and Titanium (Manoel Nunes) in the Stewards’ Cup, will step A La Victory up to the other two Legs, the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) on June 19 and the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 10 remains to be seen.
A La Victory, when then prepared by Peters’ ex-boss Michael Freedman, was campaigned over more ground last year, but failed. He even lined up in the Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) but ran dead last.
Powell for one felt that a second bite at longer trips would not be beyond the realms of possibility.
“I think if he settles and doesn’t pull hard, he can go over a trip. He must not wear himself out,” said Powell who has never won a Stewards' Cup in 11 years of riding at Kranji, but does boast two wins in the Derby with Hello And Goodbye (2005) and Clint (2011).
“I don’t know the horse well as it will be my first time riding him in a race, but I’ve seen videos of him and he’s been quite a tough horse to ride at times. He can wander a bit in the home straight when he hits the front too soon.
“But he’s shown me everything was good with him so far. I’m looking forward to my first ride on him this Sunday.”