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Trainer’s premiership runner-up Shane Baertschiger couldn’t have been happier with his 2018 Singapore season, but realises that he might struggle to keep up with the same tempo into the new season.
Firing winners on a regular basis last year, the Australian handler was a close contender for top honours throughout the year until Lee Freedman drew clear late. He eventually finished second on 59 winners, eight behind his fellow countryman.
Baertschiger said he gave the championship his all, but somehow knew his task would be made harder with the stable’s dwindling numbers around October-November.
“It was a very good season, but I knew it’d be tough to win the title. I was left with only half of my stable in the end, it’s been a long year,” said Baertschiger of his career-best finish since he took over his father in 2012.
“That’s why we are having a quiet start to the season. I had only two runners on New Year’s Day (Born To Be King and Tun O’Reilly, with the former’s third the best result).
“It’s a bit better this Sunday with seven runners. We’ll take it week by week, no rush, we’ll be right.”
Three of them step out in the same race, the $85,000 Kranji Stakes B race over 1100m – Dinghu Mountain, Flak Jacket, Guilty Pleasures, who do not figure among his most prolific runners last year even if they all won at least one race, but Baertschiger is still counting on a good performance.
“They’re not top chances, but I think they’ll run well,” he said. “It’s hard to split them, but if I really had to, I would say Flak Jacket might have a slight edge.
“He may be eight now, but he’s run well at his last three starts. He won in Class 3 and ran well when up in class, Vlad Duric will ride him.
“Dinghu Mountain is first-up from a break. He has a good first-up record, but this may be too short for him.
“Guilty Pleasures ran third at his last start on Polytrack. He’s maintained his form.”
Baertschiger has booked Barend Vorster and Matthew Kellady on Dinghu Mountain and Guilty Pleasures respectively.
“They’re all fit and well and have all drawn well (3, 5 and 6). May the best one of them win,” he said.