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The Poon Train will be pulling back into Kranji sooner than thought.
Matthew Poon, or “The Poon Train” as he was affectionately known during his apprenticeship in Adelaide, will fly in for a quick gig at the Dester Singapore Gold Cup meeting next Sunday week.
The Hong Kong sensation, who just came out of his time two weeks ago, came for his second yearly visit in July-August, again wowing Kranji like he did at his first visit around the same time (during the Hong Kong break) in 2017.
Trainer Shane Baertschiger, his biggest supporter during these two prolific stints, was again the one behind the earlier-than-anticipated comeback, which is also just a one-day pitstop visit this time – to ride Preditor in the third Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, the $1.35 Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 11.
Two reasons for the call-up: Regular partner John Powell is suspended, and more pointedly: Poon boasts a faultless record on Preditor – two runs for two wins, including this year’s Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) on August 12, lowering the colours of none other than Debt Collector, winner of the first two Legs and all the rage to create history for a first clean sweep of the Triple Crown in the Gold Cup.
With the Savabeel entire racing off-colour in the first two Legs, the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m), a jockey who knows which buttons to push would be a plus.
“Matty’s ridden him twice for two wins. After JP was suspended, he was the obvious choice, also as there is no racing in Hong Kong on that day,” said Baertschiger.
“He’s not an apprentice jockey anymore, but he will still claim one kilo. I’ll see what other rides I will give him on the day.
“There is the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy he will have to ride in, but it depends what race it is depending on the entries. Hopefully, I can give him a ride in this.
“Preditor has pulled up fine after his last start (QEII Cup when last). He ran too close to the pace that day.
“He’s okay. He galloped this morning and I’m happy with his condition.
“The 2000m is no problem at all. He ran over further in New Zealand (2100m and 2400m) and he ran a close fifth to Infantry in the Derby (2000m) last year.
“He’s a horse who doesn’t mind a bit of rain. It’s been pretty wet in recent days.”
Baertschiger has also nominated Blue Swede in the Gold Cup, and won’t be without representation in the two feature races on the Friday night (November 9).
As mentioned last week, he will saddle his rising star Bold Thruster in the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m) while Be Bee and Paparazzi runs in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
“Be Bee was beaten by the handicap in the Garden City Trophy. He was 12.5kgs worse off Aramco (winner and stablemate),” said Baertschiger.
“He still ran a huge race (closing fifth). I expect him to run better with the handicap conditions of the Barker.
“Both will be on 50kgs. Matty Kellady will ride Be Bee as JP cannot make that weight while I haven’t booked a rider for Paparazzi yet.”
The Snitzel five-year-old resumed from a four-month break with Glen Boss up at his last start, running ninth to Zac Kasa in a Class 2 race over 1200m, but only less than four lengths astern.