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Trainer Jason Ong thought that either Major King or Akhtar can win in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Saturday, regardless of the weights they carry.
Major King will carry the equal topweight of 58.5kgs with fellow contender Sacred Gift, but he has good Polytrack form, and also the service of leading rider and regular partner, Manoel Nunes.
Akhtar , who will have two-kilo claimer Zyrul Nor Azman atop, carries only 51.5kgs and he will be a serious lightweight hope in the field.
The pair met on July 30 in a Class 3 race over 1000m where Major King won with the proverbial leg in the air. Although beaten five lengths away in third, Akhtar was only at his second start in Singapore. This Saturday, he would get a six-kilo swing in the weights on his stablemate.
Two points not lost on Ong.
"It's all about the difference in the weights," said the young Singaporean conditioner on Tuesday.
"Yes, Akhtar (x I Am Invincible) was well beaten the last time they met, but I thought his effort of a place in that field was good considering he was second-up and only carried one kilo less than Major King.
"And Zyrul's two-kilo claim will make a big difference on Saturday. He (Akhtar) is very 'coltish' and Zyrul puts a lot of work into him at trackwork.
"He knows the horse well and with 51.5kgs, he will run a very forward race.
"Akhtar has also trialled well since that run (won trial no 4 on August 17 in the time of 59.58secs). He's definitely improved. If he gets a good barrier, he will be very competitive."
While Akhtar was first-up after the pair last met, Major King had a crack at Group 3 company but ran seventh to Kharisma in the Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) on August 6.
That feature race was held on the turf but given Major King's record of four wins and two placings from six starts on the Polytrack, Ong was excited to see him back on the all-weather surface.
"I thought he (Major King) more than handles the turf but he is going so well on the Polytrack at the moment," said Ong of the Per Incanto five-year-old.
"His last win in (a) Class 3 (race) was very good and Manoel stays on.
"I couldn't be happier with how he is going and his recent trial win (won trial no 2 on August 29 in the time of 59.68secs) was very good too, so he ticked all the boxes.
"But the question mark would be him carrying 58.5kgs in a Class 3 field that's pretty good. The most he had to carry when he won was 56.5kgs (in a Class 4 race on June 24 over 1100m), so that (top weight) is the query on Saturday."
Ong – who currently leads the 2023 trainers' premiership on 38 wins, three more than the second-placed Michael Clements – nominated 14 other runners on Saturday and hoped that his stable can continue its golden run after a week without racing.
"It's been great for everyone at the stable," said Ong of the recent purple patch.
"That gave confidence to everyone at the stable and it's just good to have the horses running at their best. It's also nice for owners to come to the races and have winners.
"The week off was not ideal given we only race sparingly now, but the team are doing a great job and we will keep pushing. I think credit goes to the staff and the riders.
"We have a few solid chances this week. Apart from Major King and Akhtar, I think Fabu looks well placed (in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1000m) and will go very close.
"I gave him (Fabu) a freshen-up and I think coming back to 1000m is ideal. He likes to jump and run, so if he gets a good barrier, (jockey) Shafrizal (Saleh) will get him going early.
"(Jockey) TH (Teck Huat) Koh also has a few good rides for me. Song Of Nature will enjoy the Polytrack (in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m) with no weight (50kgs).
"And he (Koh) gets on really well with both The Wild Prince (in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m) and See Yah (in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m).
"The Wild Prince is knocking on the door and See Yah loves the 1400m on turf, so I expect both of them to run well."
