Absolute Champion off to Singapore on a clean bill of health
14 May, 2008
Riding on the success of another winning double at Shatin on Monday, Hong Kong-based trainer David Hall hopes his run of luck continues as his top sprinter Absolute Champion makes his belated trip to Singapore for this weekend’s Group 1 Krisflyer Sprint at Kranji racecourse
Absolute Champion, who has had a history of feet problems, overcame a late injury scare on Monday after the son of Marauding struggled with soreness after a solid barrier trial effort at Shatin last Tuesday.
His trainer David Hall was not able to give him any trackwork for the following few days and had virtually ruled out the Singapore trip for the world’s highest rated sprinter of 2006.
However, by delaying Absolute Champion’s flight to Singapore from last Saturday to yesterday (Tuesday), Hall was able give the gelding some additional rest and treatment for his feet during the weekend.
In a make-or-break gallop on Monday morning, jockey Brett Prebble rode Absolute Champion and gave the trip to Kranji the thumbs up, which was more than enough for Hall to go ahead with his first overseas mission since being licensed in Hong Kong.
"I think if we had to make the decision to go with Sanziro on Saturday night, it would have been tougher for us but he has improved every day," Hall said. "Brett rode him in work this morning. It was only a light piece of exercise on the all-weather track, but he can't fault him."
"He's not a horse who needs a lot of work to have him fit, so that's been a blessing. If he was a horse that needed a heavy workload, we probably would have been in trouble. But he's very genuine, tries very hard and these good horses can do things that the lesser class horses just can't do.
The prospect of a wet track was something Hall has kept in mind along the way, too, with the likelihood that those conditions would be more comfortable for Absolute Champion's troublesome feet.
"It's something we know he'll handle and a hard track is not good for any horse really," Hall said. "As long as it's a bit forgiving at Kranji, that would be a big bonus."
Besides Absolute Champion, Hong Kong is also represented by the Casper Fownes-trained Sanziro in the KrisFlyer Sprint and since arriving in Singapore on Saturday, the son of Danzero has been reported to be working well ahead of his first appearance in a Group One event.
Trackwork rider Dale Bussey just gave Sanziro one and a half rounds of quiet canter and came away happy with the horse.
"He felt very well, nice and bright. He sweated a little bit just because of the heat," he said.
Trainer Caspar Fownes, who arrived the night before, was also pleased with the workout.
"He just had a good sweat but the horse is in great order. He travelled well and has been eating well. We'll just take it a bit quiet until Friday. We'll let him get used to the heat and he'll have a gallop then."
Fownes views this Sunday’s S$1m (HK$5.7m) event over 1200m as a "strong race" but is keeping his fingers crossed.
"He's not among the top level in Hong Kong; only the second level. But he ran well last start and finished third to Sacred Kingdom. That's the reason we brought him here to run. So hopefully he can pick up a cheque for the owner. It's good prize-money," said the reigning Hong Kong champion trainer.
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