3 minute read
Mark Walker and the Elite Performance Stable are backing Malaysian jockey Benny Woodworth to find the key that will unlock Elite Invincible’s old form in next Sunday week’s Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m).
A formidable force in the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge when he made away with the first two Legs, only to find one better in Jupiter Gold in the one that mattered, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m), Elite Invincible, however, did not enjoy the same charmed run in the Singapore Triple Crown series.
First, a temperature saw him miss the first Leg, the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) on September 23. Walker then thought he wouldn’t be 100% in the second Leg one month later, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m), swaying towards an alternative route towards the grand final, a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m on October 12.
The Irish-bred four-year-old by Archarcharch did not go a yard, well beaten by Tesoro Privado when ridden by regular partner Vlad Duric. He is a wet track duffer.
It was not the lead-up Walker would have hoped for, but he stuck to his guns. The Gold Cup was always meant to be his Holy Grail.
But then came the latest spanner in the works – or so they thought: Duric was suspended for careless riding for five days, ruling him out of the ride in the Gold Cup. Walker had to find another jockey, anything but a cinch these days with the current dearth of senior riders through suspension, plus the fact the Gold Cup is a handicap race where the riding ranks are mostly filled by lightweight riders.
As it turned out it was a non-issue. Elite Invincible was handicapped at 53kgs – a weight that heavyweight jockey Duric cannot make anyway.
Walker did not have to search high and low.
“Benny has won (a Kranji Stakes A race over 1600m in February) on him and knows him. He is a pretty good rider and is very strong,” said the Kiwi handler, who does not resort to the Malaysian hoop all that often.
“What’s good is he won’t have to waste to ride him at that weight unlike some of the other jockeys.
“Benny was happy enough with his barrier trial yesterday (Tuesday). He’s done a bit of work on the hill track with him as well.”
Securing an apt replacement is one thing. Finding that extra couple of lengths after the interrupted run is another.
“It all started when he did that slight temperature and missed the Raffles Cup. Then he couldn’t run in the QEII Cup either,” said Walker.
“The only good thing is he has had a short campaign. Two weeks after the Derby (July) he was just hand-walked and he may still have some residual fitness.
“I’m more hopeful than confident that he will be presented at his best next Sunday, but he’s also never gone around with 53kgs, so it’s worth a try.
“The distance is not a worry. He ran (sixth) in the UAE Derby (1900m) last year and he ran second in the Derby here (1800m).
“He just doesn’t like the wet track, which explains his bad run at his last start. He’s run three times on wet tracks and he was disappointing every time – if it rains, he has no chance.”
Meanwhile, Walker will be kept busy this weekend, saddling a team of 17 runners, including the undefeated Richebourg (two-from-two) in the $80,000 Class 3 Division 2 speed dash over 1100m on Sunday.
Walker sees no reason why the Real Saga four-year-old will shirk the task up in class (he beat Open Maiden and Class 4 Non Premier cattle at his two wins). He dons blinker-pacifiers, a gear he responded very well to in a victorious barrier trial last Tuesday.
“Richebourg trialled well last week. As Zawari (Razali who partnered him at his two wins) is suspended, (Glen) Boss will ride him this time,” said Walker.
“He’s a big strong type and will be up in class, but he is a progressive sort and I hope he can measure up.”
On the same day, he expects to see some improvement from Atlantic Fox and Sportscaster in the $80,000 Class 3 race over the turf mile, but probably not quite for the top prize. Both ran seventh at their debuts and had Walker’s apprentice Mohd Firdaus on top.
“Atlantic Fox is a Savabeel and needs more distance,” said Walker.
“Sportscaster was very unlucky first-up. I think he will run well better this time.”
Walker has booked Craig Grylls on Atlantic Fox and has left Firdaus on Sportscaster.