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After weeks of to-ing and fro-ing, trainer David Kok finally revealed it was Michael Rodd who will ride his banner horse Well Done at his comeback race, the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) on February 17.
The Singaporean handler broke the news shortly after the bold chestnut ran a nice fourth at his second barrier trial from a five-month break on Tuesday.
“Michael Rodd will ride Well Done in the Fortune Bowl. He is a top big-race jockey and knows the horse well, and we are lucky to have him as he was available for that race,” said Kok.
The Australian jockey does not often ride for Kok, but circumstances (regular partner Manoel Nunes was on the sidelines after a bout of kidney stones) saw him climb aboard at two of Well Done’s seven wins, including the most prestigious of them, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby then run over 2000m, which incidentally was the Falkirk six-year-old’s last win.
The 2016 Singapore Derby-Patron’s Bowl double winner ran in a first barrier trial under Kok’s apprentice jockey Salim Yusoff on January 25, running a close third to Macarthur.
Owner Jason Goh was again on hand at the second barrier trial to watch his pride and joy run a pleasing fifth to Boy Wonder. Salim again took the ride while Rodd was aboard Don De La Vega.
Kok saddled a second runner in the barrier trial, Fragrance Empire who ran fifth. The US-bred eight-year-old by Silver Train was ridden by Mark Ewe, who combined with Kok for a double on Sunday (see other report).
Fragrance Empire has been one of Ewe’s rare silver linings at his recent lean years. He rode him to five of his six wins, with the first one dating as far back as 2014.
“I’m very happy with Well Done’s second trial. Again, he did it within his own steam,” said Kok.
“That will bring him on just nice for the Fortune Bowl next weekend. I will now give him only some light work till then.”
Well Done put in three average runs last year, even if he seemed to be nearing his peak at a run from a short let-up when a smack-up fifth to Forever Young in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m), but was again felled by another leg setback, this time to his near fore suspensory.