3 minute read
Trainer Leslie Khoo is under no illusions his staying mare Claudia’s Beauty might have her job cut out in Friday night’s $85,000 Class 2 race over 1800m, but is still hoping for an improved performance at her second run from a break.
Ridden by in-form hoop Noh Senari, the daughter of Daliapour ran on late for fifth in a Kranji Stakes B race over 1600m on February 8, at her first outing since running ninth to Elite Invincible in the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November.
That day, Claudia's Beauty was considered a roughie, but looked half a chance when she was still in the mix at the 300m for then-apprentice jockey Troy See. She narrowly escaped a possible spill when Noah From Goa broke down another 100m later, but was, however, clearly beaten by better horses.
The opposition is not as daunting this week, but Khoo said the pull in weights was, hence his decision to keep Noh on for the steering duties.
This season’s surprise packet currently tops the Singapore jockey’s premiership on 15 winners and certainly makes strong appeal with his two-kilo allowance.
“Claudia’s Beauty is in good shape, but she gives weight all round on Friday,” said Khoo.
“She definitely needed the run at her first start this year, but she’s improved since. We wanted her to settle in midfield but she didn’t have the speed to get there.
“Noh had to settle her at the rear. She only made up some ground late.
“The only question mark this time is the big weight of 59kgs, and that’s why I’ve booked Noh again.
“Not only he still claims two, but he’s riding in great form. I hope he can bring that form to Claudia’s Beauty tomorrow.
“Condition-wise, she is on the up, and distance-wise, 1800m will suit her better.
“I really liked her gallop on Tuesday. I’m expecting an improved run.”
Khoo said he had not really mapped out a definite path for the Lucky Stable-owned mare, but the staying feature races would be figuring somewhere on the agenda at some stage if she acquits herself well on Friday.
“She ran okay in the Gold Cup. She did her best against those horses even if she had a small weight (51.5kgs) at the handicap,” said Khoo, who has yet to win any silverware in Singapore since setting up shop at Kranji in 2008.
“She’s a straightforward mare to train, no issues. She’s better over more ground - anything upwards of 1600m is good for her.
“The Kranji Mile would be a race I would consider if she runs well this Friday, and of course the other usual feature races like the Raffles Cup and the QEII Cup later on in the year.
“But let’s not get too far ahead. Let’s see how she measures up in lesser company first this Friday up.”
The Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) will be at its second edition as a revamped Invitational race and will be staged on May 25 while the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) are run as the first two Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series on September 22 and October 20 respectively, leading up to another possible tilt at the Singapore Gold Cup on November 10.
