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Trainer Leslie Khoo was looking forward to a bit of Girl Power at this Sunday’s $1 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m), but it won’t be for this time.
The Singaporean handler had booked jockey Alysha Collett on his mare Claudia's Beauty for the second Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, but with the Kiwi lass sidelined though a foot and back injury sustained in a race fall from Drone on Sunday, he had to look elsewhere.
With most senior jockeys already tied up with the other 13 nominations, not to mention another three rubbed out – Alan Munro, Ryan Curatolo and Marc Lerner – in the wake of a recent spate of suspensions, Khoo was glad he was in the end able to secure the services of Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen, himself coming back from suspension for careless riding after Friday’s meeting.
“Alysha was supposed to ride Claudia’s Beauty. She even rode her at her last barrier trial two weeks ago (October 4), but unfortunately she hurt herself on Sunday,” said Khoo.
“It wasn’t easy to get a jockey. Glen Boss won on her at her last start, but he is riding Elite Excalibur for Cliff Brown.
“The Brazilian jockey (Ruan Maia) is good but he is booked for (Lee) Freedman (on Circuit Land). I could have given him other rides on Sunday, but we found out too late he had been licensed.
“But luckily, CC is back from suspension in time to take the ride on Claudia’s Beauty. He’s ridden the mare before and even if they didn’t win, at least he knows her already.”
Wong jumped aboard the Lucky Stable-owned galloper for the first time in the Group 1 Giovanni Charity Bowl (1600m) in June in which they beat one home, but only around seven lengths off the winner Elite Invincible.
A four-time winner at Kranji (including last three over the mile), Claudia’s Beauty, a five-year-old mare by Daliapour, had long been Khoo’s elect for a shot at the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 11.
“She is bred to stay. The Gold Cup was the race for her as long as she picks up enough points along the way,” said Khoo.
“She worked okay this morning, but I think the Gold Cup is more suitable for her. The 1800m of the QEII Cup is okay for her, but she’ll be even better over 2000m.”
