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English trainer James Peters is sticking to Polytrack sprint for his promising galloper Dr Kardo this Saturday even if he is convinced his strongest suit lies over more ground and not on just the all-weather.
An expected winner at his second start in a 1100m Polytrack sprint on May 15 following a narrow debut second (to Wawasan) in a similar speed dash over 1000m two weeks earlier, Dr Kardo will tackle another 100m more in this Saturday's $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, but Peters had even further in mind when referring to longer trips for the Barree Stable-owned Not A Single Doubt four-year-old.
"All the feedback from his track riders is that he will improve over 1400m and more. (Last-start winning partner) Vlad (Duric) also said he is more of a 1400m to 1600m horse," said Peters.
"He's running on Polytrack this week, but I was actually looking at a 1200m on turf for him last week. He ran on grass in Australia (three starts for one third in Sydney) without any issue.
"But when I saw it was on the E course, I decided to go for this Polytrack race instead."
Surface aside, Saturday's field makes for tougher opposition to sink his teeth into, but Peters has seen enough qualities in Dr Kardo to suggest he would measure up.
"He's coming back after two quick runs (two weeks apart). I gave him a bit of a freshen-up and he seems to have come back good," said Peters.
"He's drawn awkwardly (outermost alley in 14 to drop down after scratchings) and it's also a step-up from those Maiden races to Class 4 against more experienced horses.
"But it's great to see him racing so well for the owner after he had some issues with the soft tissue in his tendon.
"The problem is behind him now, but that's the reason he does all his work on the uphill track. He also gallops there, that track suits him and is what he needs."
Being four, the temptation of the two remaining legs of the cancelled Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) on July 3 and the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 25 could have been there, but Peters said it was never a distraction.
"He is way off these races at this stage. I'm not rushing him," he said.
"I'll look at the programme and hopefully, he will turn into a nice horse, and I may then look at the big races."
With Dr Kardo allotted 53.5kgs, heavyweight jockey Duric was unable to take the ride, and will instead hop on board Red Rover (58kgs) for Mark Walker in Saturday's contest. Peters has booked the in-form Wong Chin Chuen for Dr Kardo.
