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Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric will ride Well Done in the $200,000 Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) on March 18.
The Australian becomes the ninth rider to jump aboard the dual Group 1 winner. Among the top jockeys to have partnered the Falkirk six-year-old are Michael Rodd (two wins including the career highlight, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby in 2016), Manoel Nunes, Glen Boss (Group 1 Patron’s Bowl) and Nooresh Juglall (his first two wins).
Duric may not have race-ridden Well Done before, but he sure knows the bold chestnut has an engine which does not have many peers when firing on all cylinders.
He said he saw a glimpse of that firepower at Well Done’s first-up run in six months when a flying fifth to Clarton Super when ridden by Rodd in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) on February 17. Duric finished sixth just one length behind aboard Mr Fantastic.
When trainer David Kok and owner Jason Goh approached Duric for the Well Done ride in the Committee’s Prize, the answer was a straight yes, but on a race-by-race basis.
“I’m riding Well Done in the Committee’s Prize. Beyond that, I’m not sure if I will still ride him,” he said.
“He was the best four-year-old two years ago, he is a two-time Group 1 winner, and he was the eye-catcher in the Fortune Bowl.
“The Committee’s Prize is a handicap race and if Infantry runs, it will push his weight down. So he will be quite well at the handicaps.”
Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry also raced in the Fortune Bowl, finishing third with 58kgs, around half-a-length ahead of Well Done who shouldered 57kgs. With Infantry rated 114, nine points more than Well Done, there will be a pull in weights of 4.5 kilos between the two Singapore Derby winners should Infantry line up in the Committee’s Prize.
Duric said he has already test-driven his new plum ride and has come away suitably impressed.
“I did some evens with Well Done on Tuesday. He looked tremendous, his action was fantastic,” he said.
“He’s right up with the best here and I’m rapt to be on him. A big thank you to David and Jason for giving me the opportunity to ride him.”
Kok said he knew he had to start looking elsewhere when Rodd indicated he might not be able to stay on Well Done in the Committee’s Prize. The Australian jockey is given first refusal by trainer Cliff Brown who is understood to be running Elite Excalibur in the event.
“We are glad we got Vlad on Well Done. It’s not ideal to keep changing riders, but it is what it is,” said Kok who may not have won with Duric this year, but did combine for three wins last year (Fuego, Pioneer Step and Olympian Eager).
“He was very happy with Well Done after he galloped him this week. The horse has pulled up in great order since the Fortune Bowl and I couldn’t be happier with him.”
It is well documented that Well Done is not the soundest of horses. Plagued by knee chip problems in the past, he was being targeted at the Singapore Triple Crown series last year when he hurt his left suspensory in a routine trackwork gallop.
But his last-start run does suggest he has overcome his latest leg woes and should figure among the leading contenders in the Committee’s Prize, a race which was brought forward from September this year.
Meanwhile, Duric, who currently tops the log on 15 winners, two clear of Rodd, will be looking to put some space on his rivals when he returns from suspension (careless riding aboard Sahaba) on Sunday. The hungry hoop has a full book over the 10 races.
His ride in the day’s highlight, the $100,000 Class 2 race over 1400m is Viviano, one of three exciting Mark Walker runners in what is shaping up as a very competitive race. Irish-bred Elite Invincible, who won his last two, and last-start winner Kingsman are the other two Walkers.
“Mark has a handle on this race, and of the three, I have to say I really like Kingsman’s chances with only 51.5kgs on his back,” said Duric.
“But I’m quite happy with my bloke Viviano. He ran on very strongly for third at his last race.
“He is a well-performed Class 1 horse and he’s running in a Class 2 race this time. He’s been maintained in great order and he will be right in the mix.”