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Trainer Lee Freedman said Infantry was ready to go at his first run for him in next Sunday’s $200,000 Group 3 Moonbeam Vase (1600m).
The reigning Singapore Horse of the Year took his last barrier trial in his stride on Thursday, showing plenty of ticker under Vlad Duric from the 600m as he skirted around the eight-horse field to lower the colours of Eagle Eye (Barend Vorster) by a neck.
Infantry recently moved to the Australian handler’s yard after spending two stellar seasons at Alwin Tan where he took all before him, including four Group races with the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) and the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m), both in 2017, as his highest acclaims.
The Tavistock six-year-old last ran in the Invitational Group 1 Kranji Mile on May 26 when he ran slightly below expectations with a fifth place to Southern Legend though he loomed as a major threat at the 300m. Nova Strike (third) and Clarton Super (fourth) beat him to the better spots for the home team.
A satisfied Freedman said the timeframe he was given to suss Infantry out and bring him to his peak worked in his favour.
“He’s had two trials and he’s going into the Moonbeam in a very nice condition. I have to say he looks very good,” said Freedman.
“He did a little bit more today, and worked very well to the line. I was really happy with the way he finished it off in the last bit.
“It’s actually worked out well to have the horse for quite a long time. It gave me the time to learn about him.
“Sometimes, when you take over a horse, they are in full work and you have to keep them going and there isn’t enough time to get to know the horse.
“Infantry’s been with me for around two months now and it was just perfect.”
Duric, who partnered Infantry at his last two starts, including a close second to Circuit Land (now his stablemate) in the Group 2 Chairman’s Prize (1600m) on April 27, will again be on top of Infantry in the Moonbeam Vase.
The Thai-owned galloper won that race last year when the distance was 1800m. It was then held in April and served as a stepping stone to the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, which Infantry eventually won by taking the last Leg, the Derby.