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After reeling in three wins in-a-row under champion jockey Manoel Nunes, Super Salute will have jockey Krisna Thangamani in the irons for the first time on Saturday.
Nunes notched up his 600th Kranji win after the pair scored in a Class 3 race over 1200m on the turf on February 12 first-up, maintaining their perfect three-from-three record on top of two wins in Class 4 races previously, but the Brazilian ace will not be able to make the handicapped weight of 50.5kgs in the $85,000 Class 2 race (1200m) this time.
It may not be ideal given Super Salute had his barrier issues and Nunes knew the horse inside out from working on him regularly, however, it has given trainer Jason Lim the opportunity to repay the hard work from Krisna with the plum ride.
"Manoel can't make the weight, so I asked the owners (Alan N John Stable) if I could put Krisna on as he does a lot of work at the stables," said Lim on Tuesday.
"He's (Krisna) a good lad and always helps me with trackwork, which is so important. It was great that they were happy to give him the chance and he should ride him at 49.5kgs with his (two-kilo) claim.
"Manoel has done a lot of work with Super Salute with regards to his barrier manners, so we will talk to Krisna about that before Saturday."
The four-year-old son of I Am Invincible – who previously raced as Construct when he won one race for trainer Peter Snowden at Kembla Grange in Australia – had excuses when he missed a place as the odds-on elect at his Singapore debut in a Class 4 race (1200m) on September 17 last year.
Then with visiting jockey Bernardo Pinheiro in the saddle, Super Salute reared when the gates opened on that occasion, but he still ran a creditable fourth. He showed the money was spot on after he opened his account at his next start in a similar race on October 22.
Another win on November 5 – again in Class 4 over 1200m on the Polytrack - was perhaps his easiest and the fact that he carried 59kgs and beat Big Tiger by two-and-a-quarter lengths, suggested that he had plenty more to offer.
Lim saw further potential in him following the relatively easy win in the Class 3 race (1200m) on turf first-up after three months and he was confident that it was the right race at the right time.
"There wasn't a lot in March for him and this race looks perfect after winning first-up," explained the Singaporean conditioner.
"He (Super Salute) was 18 kilos heavier after his break but pulled up as fresh as a daisy after the last run, so he should be fitter on Saturday.
"Manoel worked him this morning and was very happy with him, so I think he should go well."
Win, lose or draw, Lim also said that Super Salute would have a crack at the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series, which kicks off with the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on June 11.
"Obviously I would like him to go well on Saturday, but we think he is up to the task, regardless," he said.
"After the race on Saturday, we can give him a short break and get him ready for the first leg of the 4YO series as 1400m looks no problem to him.
"After that, we will let the horse tell us if he is good enough and if he can go over more ground."
The next two legs in the 4YO series are the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m), which will take place on July 2 and the final leg, the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) that will be run on July 23.
Meanwhile, Sky Eye will run in the same race, but Lim thinks one can put a line through his last run when he was well beaten in the Kranji Stakes A race (1400m) on February 12.
"Manoel had no choice but to use him up from the barrier (nine) at his last start," he said.
"It was also a very strong field, so using petrol early was tough. The tempo didn't suit either, so he didn't run that badly in my opinion.
"He pulled up well and won his start before that over this trip (KSA race over 1200m on January 23) and looks well-placed with 55kgs in this field.
"(Jockey) Shafrizal (Saleh) will ride him as Manoel is on The August and he (The August) looks the danger."
