3 minute read

Saddling six of the 10 horses in the $200,000 Group 3 Fortune Bowl (2000m) is already like substantially stacking the odds your way.

However when those half-a-dozen horses figure among the leading hopes, the trainer would be awfully unlucky not to finish on the podium.

Trainer Patrick Shaw is in that enviable position for the traditional Chinese New Year race on Tuesday. Quechua, Cooptado, Perfect P, Majestic Moments, Power Play and last year’s winner Emperor’s Banquet will fill out around two-thirds of the starting gates, and going with their credentials, none are there to make up the numbers.

Each one of them has a realistic chance in one way or another, with Quechua and Perfect P arguably the two flagbearers, but the forever-humble – and humorous - Shaw is not one to head down to the winner’s box until the Fat Lady sings.

“There is no certainty in racing. I can only hope I pick up a cheque,” he said with his usual dry humour.

“They’re all in great order, but if there were to be any doubtfuls among them, then there is a distance query for Majestic Moments and Power Play.

“Power Play ran over 2000m only once whereas Majestic Moments will be at his first test. The rest are all proven over the distance.”

A bullish Shaw said that he could not fault their form leading up to Tuesday’s contest.

“Quechua and Cooptado are well weighted and will definitely run a good race. Quechua is in great form and touch wood, he gets invited to Dubai, likewise for Perfect P and Cooptado,” said Shaw who has nominated all three runners for the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) with an additional shot at the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) for Cooptado.

“Cooptado is a horse who is obviously looking for longer but there aren’t such races here. 2000m is about the best I can get for him but he is getting closer to his best trip.

“This race is all part of their prep for Dubai. It’s the perfect race before they go there if they get invited and still have something in reserve.”

Quechua will be ridden by regular partner Corey Brown while Cooptado will be reunited with John Powell and Perfect P will have Shaw’s No 1 jockey, Barend Vorster atop.

Going with the calibre of jockeys he has engaged for the remaining half, Shaw must think they are certainly no pushovers. While he does not often recourse to Manoel Nunes’ services, he has booked the two-time Singapore champion jockey and his fellow Brazilian Elione Chaves, who has impressed all and sundry in the few weeks he has been at Kranji, on Majestic Moments and Power Play respectively.

Emperor’s Banquet will be ridden by his apprentice Mohd Firdaus, who boasts one win in two partnerships with the son of Holy Roman Emperor.

“Emperor’s Banquet is a gutsy horse who ran very well In the Gold Cup (sixth to Cooptado). He’s not out of it, he always tries his hardest and he will appreciate the sting out of the ground,” said the South African mentor.

“I wanted to run Majestic Moments in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m on the same day but it was cancelled. He’s a Derby prospect and we had to test him over the trip at some stage.

“He once ran over 1800m only around 4 ½ lengths off Stepitup, and that was only last October. He’s different and stronger this time and hopefully he can improve on Tuesday.

“Like I said, Power Play is not quite a 2000m horse but he won easily at his last start and he has no weight on his back.”

The rare feat of saddling the quartet – or even more - is a strong possibility for Shaw, but he is not one to give in to complacency. There are four opponents who can definitely come and split his team.

Among those standing in his way to back-to-back Fortune Bowls, Shaw said Order Of The Sun, Martin and Squire Osbaldeston were all handy stayers, but has singled out Michael Clements’ Blue Danube as the main danger.

“Blue Danube is a classy Argentinian stayer. He hasn’t hit his real form yet,” said Shaw, who is a fine connoisseur of stock from the South American country himself, with only Emperor’s Banquet and Majestic Moments of the sextet not born there.

“If he hits form on Tuesday and brings his Argentinian form to Kranji, we’ll all run second.”