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Trivia buffs will pounce on the unique combination of Super Dan, trained by Daniel Meagher and to be partnered for the first time by jockey Danny Beasley on Friday as a good omen, but the trainer himself is not reading too much into it.
Super Dan has had one second and two thirds for three Kranji starts up to now, ridden each time by a different jockey. It’s the first time Beasley will jump aboard in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m, a pairing which Meagher said should have occurred a while back if not for the Australian’s unavailability.
Whether the union of the three “Dan’s” will finally unlock the Darci Brahma three-year-old’s winning potential remains to be seen, but Meagher would rather just go with concrete facts.
“I was meant to put Danny on him for a long time, but suspensions have played a part in him not riding the horse,” explained Meagher.
“He’s been riding him a lot, though, especially in his barrier trials and he knows him very well.
“It’s just a coincidence we will have that happy trio tomorrow. I would be even happier if he wins.”
Meagher is confident the Super Team Stable galloper, who was named by its owner Andre Lim (of Super Easy fame) as a “bit of a joke”, can finally deliver, naming anecdote notwithstanding.
“He’s run well at all his three starts. He was beaten at his last two starts by two very good horses, Southern Dragon and Major Advancement,” said the affable handler.
“I just think he’s been a very slow learner, but he seems to be much more settled now. I’ve always thought he was a 1400m to a mile horse, but he was mentally not quite there yet.
“Hopefully, we get the result this week, thought I think Major Tom and Paragon Star will be the hardest to beat.”
After a decent start to his rookie year with a sizeable haul of 21 winners in only eight months in 2016, Meagher has yet to open his 2017 account yet, but the youngest son of former leading Kranji trainer John Meagher has made a bit of a name for himself with his patience.
Starting from scratch with mostly stable transfers at first, Meagher was able to find the key to a few horses like Natural Impulse (three wins), Easy Dragon and Hee’s Ego last year. The latest “second-hand” horse he is hoping to see turn the corner is a lot more high-profile: Dual Australian Group 2 winner Eclair Choice.
The California Dane five-year-old finished last in his barrier trial – the first time he tasted defeat in such hit-outs at Kranji - on Thursday, but Meagher was happy with the way the former Patrick Shaw-trained sprinter owned by Macau owner Thomas Li (of Eclair Fastpass fame) was coming along.
Originally prepared by leading Adelaide trainer Phil Stokes in Australia, the Tab.com.au Stakes and Caulfield Sprint winner has won all his four Kranji trials, but flattered to deceive at his four starts, including a fading last as the raging favourite at his penultimate outing in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1100m last October after being well up with the pace.
Meagher was taking his time with the new charge, but has tentatively mapped out an ambitious plan should he come good.
“Eclair Choice is going really well. He trialled for us today and he did exactly what I wanted him to do,” he said.
“His fitness is not up to scratch yet, but I’m very happy with him. Pat (Shaw) gave me some good advice on him, saying he hasn’t fully acclimatised when he came to him.
“Short-term, his main goal is the Group 2 Merlion Trophy (on March 5), while I’ve also nominated him for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai (on March 25).
“But he will have to win here first before we consider the Dubai race. We’ll play it by ear.
“The horse is going in the right direction and has settled beautifully, that is the main thing for now.”