3 minute read
Good jockeys make their own luck but gun Brazilian hoop Bernardo Pinheiro will be busy doing his race day homework after six of his 11 rides drew wide barriers for Saturday’s 12-race meeting.
In the first four races alone, Golden Dash will jump from gate nine in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1100m, while Rook's Gambit ($75,000 Restricted Maiden Division 1 race over 1200m), Fountain Of Fame ($30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1400m) and Strike Gold ($75,000 Restricted Maiden Division 2 race over 1200m) all drew barrier 10 in their respective races.
And while there is respite from bad gates for Pinheiro halfway through the meeting – Tony's Love, City Gold Friend, Outfit and Sayonara had all drawn well - Zoffspeed will jump from gate 11 in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 2000m and last-start winner, Cheval Magnifique will jump from the outside gate 12 in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1000m towards the end of the meeting.
It was not ideal but part of the game and one that the in-form jockey took in his stride when assessing his chances on Thursday.
"It (the wide barriers) certainly will test some of my mounts, especially the two horses (Rook's Gambit and Strike Gold) having their first race starts," said Pinheiro.
"(Trainer) Richard (Lim) offered me the ride on Rook's Gambit (x El Roca) and told me he was happy with him. The gate hurts his chances on debut but he looked a serious horse and the race is very open.
"Strike Gold (x Iffraaj) was very well prepared for his debut – (trainer) Ricardo's (Le Grange) two-year-olds always are, but the wide gate can be tricky in juvenile races as there are a lot of inexperienced horses involved. "But he won his trial well (finished first in trial no. 1 on July 4 in the time of 1 min 1sec) and should run a good race.
"But for a horse like Zoffspeed (x Zoffany), the wide barrier looked ideal.
"He (Zoffspeed) likes to get back and relax, so the wide gate works in his favour. If there is a good speed early in the race, he will be strong late and one of my better chances on the day."
Of his other mounts that have drawn badly, Pinheiro thought that Cheval Magnifique (x El Kabeir) will be more than competitive at his first start out of maiden company, while Golden Dash (x Suggestive Boy) and Fountain Of Fame (x Charm Spirit) are honest each-way hopes.
"Hopefully, Cheval Magnifique jumps well as he has the early speed to put himself into the race. He jumped from a wide barrier (12) last start when I won on him, so we could cross and get cover just off the leaders. This race is tougher, but he has no weight (53.5kgs).
"Golden Dash is a fighter and will enjoy a good tempo and Fountain Of Fame is a lovely horse to ride and is ready to win again."
With the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) and the $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m) coming up next Sunday, Pinheiro also looks forward to his rides on City Gold Wonder and Silo respectively.
"The Derby looks top-heavy with two or three serious chances," said Pinheiro, who has ridden 19 winners in Singapore this season after arriving from the UAE in April.
"But my horse was bought specifically by the owners (City Gold Stable) for this race and (trainer) David (Kok) has done a good job to get him here given the rushed preparation.
"City Gold Wonder (x Sooboog) gave me a good feel in the (Group 2) Stewards' Cup (1600m). He had no gap in that race (on July 2), so he could have finished closer (ran ninth to Golden Monkey).
"He will improve from that run and he also had a nice quiet trial today (finished third to Sun Ops in trial no 3). He is ready for the Derby.
"Silo (x National Defense) also had a nice and easy trial today (finished first in trial no. 5 in the time of 59.66secs). I was very happy with him. He is maturing and improving with every race and trial.
"I watched his first race against the older horses and liked what I saw (finished third in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on May 14).
"He won well for me at his next start (in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on June 3) and came through that race well.
"(Trainer) Stephen (Crutchley) liked him a lot and I think he is a very clever horse. He (Silo) has more to offer and has shown me enough to make me think that he stands a very good chance against his own age group in the Golden Horseshoe."
