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WHY BE, the undisputed
sprint king at Kranji, gets his chance to show his true worth against some
top-notch international entries in the S$1m KrisFlyer International Sprint
over 1200m on Sunday.
The only previous time WHY BE was pitted
against such elite company was in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint last December
when he finished down the field at Sha Tin. But with home ground advantage,
it could be a different story.
WHY BE's colours has been lowered somewhat of
late and there's a pretender to his crown: CAPABLANCA who won the Lion City
Cup last month ahead of WHY BE who managed only to finish fourth. The pair
will provide plenty of optimism for local racing fans.
But Australian appears to have a strong hand
in the International Sprint, back on the international racing calendar after
a six-year hiatus
Taking pride of place for the KrisFlyer is none other than Australia’s
fairytale horse and international globetrotter TAKEOVER TARGET (Group 1
Lightning Stakes, Group 2 King’s Stand). From the day former taxi driver Joe
Janiak parted with A$1250 for the castoff by Celtic Swing, it’s been a
whirlwind of feature wins Down Under all the way to Royal Ascot and Japan.
Australia will have a two-pronged back-up. MAGNUS will make his final
racetrack appearance before going to stud. The entire is a Group 1 winner of
the Galaxy in Sydney and has two Group 1 seconds behind WEEKEND HUSSLER,
currently ranked the best three-year-old in the world.
UNIVERSAL RULER is the third Australian representative from the other side
of the island continent. The three-year-old Perth galloper has to date won
five of his six starts with a career high coming at his last start in the
Listed Easter Stakes.
Hong Kong’s crack sprinter ABSOLUTE CHAMPION (2006 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
Sprint) is also likely to book his ticket for the 1200m speed dash. He is
joined by SANZIRO.
England’s hope is with LOVELACE, a winner of the Group 3 Supreme Stakes.
The United Arab Emirates will try and snag the KrisFlyer with two of their
speediest customers, SALAAM DUBAI and STAR CROWNED.
STAR CROWNED ran a cracking third to BENNY THE BULL in the US$2 million
Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m) on dirt, with his jockey Mick Kinane even
protesting against second for interference, but without success.  |
