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Australian import Battle Of Troy has lived up to his blue bloodlines with two wins from only three starts at Kranji so far, not to mention a smart barrier trial win last Thursday, but trainer Desmond Koh still believes he still has everything to prove on Sunday.
The former Team Hawkes-trained Flying Spur four-year-old and one-time winner over 1400m at Geelong is a half-brother to Group 1 winners Inspiration (Hong Kong Sprint) and Wandjina (Australian Guineas) through his dam La Bamba (x Last Tycoon).
After a flying third slaloming through the field on debut in a Class 4 race over 1100m, Battle Of Troy was rock solid at his two next starts, victorious in Class 4 and BM67 company, both over seven furlongs.
Koh is stepping up the PFG Racing Stable-owned gelding to the mile for the first time in Sunday’s $80,000 Abundance Stakes, which is a race for Class 3 gallopers.
In Australia, Battle Of Troy only went as far as 1500m, finishing third at Rosehill, collared late in the last 150m under Tommy Berry.
While the distance is an unknown quantity, it is only half of Koh’s worries. He after all decided Battle Of Troy had all the makings of a horse asking for more distance.
“He’s never run over the mile back home. If he’s gone over a bit of a trip, he didn’t win,” said the Singaporean handler, who is enjoying a superb start to his 2017 campaign with already four winners under the belt.
“But from the way he races, he gives me the impression he is looking for more ground. I had to test him at some stage.
“But he’s also facing a tough field this Sunday. I think Jupiter Gold will be hard to beat.
“He’s also running over 1600m for the first time but from the way he won at his last start, I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Nonetheless, Koh was encouraged with the way Battle Of Troy has come through his layoff since his last win on November 11 ahead of his Sunday assignment.
“He won a nice trial last Thursday, he actually finished 1-2 with his stablemate Famous Artist, so I was very pleased with both horses,” said Koh.
“CC Wong (Chin Chuen) will ride him again as he knows him very well. He’s drawn in 11, but over the mile on the Long Course, he should have some time to find a good spot.”
Koh also saddles another one of his up-and-comers and recent barrier trial winner in Lightning Fast on the next day, in the $100,000 Longevity Stakes, an Open Benchmark 83 contest over 1100m, but is again predicting a stiffer task against stronger cattle.
“Lightning Fast won a nice barrier trial yesterday. He’s holding his form very well,” he said.
“But he’s up against much better horses on Monday; it’s a big jump in class. He’s got the quality but the quality of the other horses like Wonderful and Distinctive Darci is to me even better.”
