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Although the $150,000 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) this Sunday is only a lead-up race for Sacred Croix before his main assignment one month later, trainer Jerome Tan thinks the ‘eternal bridesmaid’ in Group races deserves to break the duck soon.
The eight-year-old by Savabeel last visited the winner's circle almost two years ago in a Class 1 race on April 24, 2021 when still under the care of ex-Kranji trainer Mark Walker, but the honest galloper has ran 14 times in Group races and placed regularly in elite company - his latest being a third in the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) on March 25.
Previously, he only found one better at Group level four times – including being beaten by half a length to Lim's Lightning in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) last year, a race that Tan has earmarked for him again this year on May 20.
That anomaly is something his trainer wants to change – starting Sunday in the EW Barker Trophy – but understands that things will have to be right on the day for his highest-rated galloper to break through for a win in Group races.
"It's (1400m) a bit too short for him," explained the Singaporean conditioner who has yet to win a Group race in Singapore in four years after leaving Penang where he trained for 10 years.
"But he is in good form and looks well-in at the handicaps (56kgs) so he will be more than competitive.
"(Jockey) Ronnie (Benny Woodworth) will settle him where he's comfortable and if the race is run at a tempo that suits backmarkers, he will be strong late.
"The 'A' Long Course will suit so let's hope thing go our way.
"He deserves to win a good race like this but he will be better over the mile so the Kranji Mile is his main aim."
Tan also has The August – both horses owned by the Raffles Racing Stable - in the final 13-horse field but suggests that the I Am Invincible seven-year-old will have his work cut out for him after drawing badly in barrier 10.
"It will be tough from there (gate 10) in this field," said Tan.
"He's on the quick back-up from last Sunday but pulled up fresh, so he is ready to go. He only has 51.5kgs to carry but (jockey) Iskandar (Rosman) will have to try and find a good spot in the run.
"If he can get a good position, I think 1400m will suit after his run last Sunday (finished second to Sky Eye in a Class 1 race over 1100m) so he could figure.
"The handicap conditions of the EW (Barker Trophy) suit horses like The August, but it's just a shame about the gate".
Of his opposition, Tan thinks that the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained Golden Monkey and the Jason Lim-trained Super Salute are the two to beat while he keeps an eye on the lightweight contenders as well.
"You have to contend with a lot of lightweight chances to win this race," he continued.
"The last few winners (the race was last run in 2020 when Nepean won with 51kgs) have carried little or no weight, so it is a race set up for those types of horses.
"Only (Ricardo Le Grange-trained) Rocket Star (57kgs) has more weight than Sacred Croix , so that is against us both.
"I think Golden Monkey and Super Salute are both in very well at the weights (both carry 54.5kgs) and are in winning form.
"They will be hardest to beat but Sacred Croix is competitive all the time.
"If we can't win, it would be nice for either of mine to pick up some prizemoney ahead of races like the Kranji Mile."
