3 minute read
Trainer Leticia Dragon has been toying with the idea of stepping Nimble up in trip for a while, an intention which will eventuate this Sunday in the $400,000 Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).
A winner of five-from-five between 1000m and 1200m at Kranji, the Patronize four-year-old tasted his first defeat at his sixth outing when tested at the elite level in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on May 25.
The former Perth galloper did not flatter, but neither was he totally outclassed when running seventh, just under five lengths off the winner Aramco.
Dragon had been looking at getting Nimble out of the short sprint square even after showing his prowess over sprints at Kranji. Nimble raced a few times beyond 1200m when known as The Shoe for former jockey Stephen Miller in Perth, albeit he did not salute, with his solitary win coming in a 1200m race at Pinjarra from 10 starts in Western Australia.
But Kranji's first lady trainer had a gut-feel her stable banner was not just a one-dimensional six-furlong sprinter, and he was worth venturing out of his comfort zone.
"I did say in one of my post-race interviews that I would like to try him over ground late in the year," said Dragon.
"I thought the Stewards' Cup was a good race to put him in. I could have run him in the Silver Bowl (new Group 3 race over 1400m on June 9, the first Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge of which the Stewards' Cup is the second Leg), but it was too close to the Lion City Cup.
"I thought his run in the Lion City Cup was not too bad considering it was his first time competing against real Group company. He's been running in Kranji Stakes C and up to Class 2 so far, and to me, he was not disgraced."
Whether Nimble will then proceed to the third Leg, the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) remains to be seen, but the groundwork to inject more endurance into his legs is well underway.
"Obviously, I've stepped up on his stamina work for a while now. He seems to be responding well," said Dragon.
"He trialled quietly at the back last week (June 18). He did his regular stuff, just run relaxed – too relaxed as usual.
"The barrier (13) is a worry, he will be at his first mile test here, but the horse is well and I hope he can produce a good run against some quality horses.
"JP (John Powell) rode him in the trial and has ridden him most of the time, but he's riding Heliosphere this Sunday. It will be S John (Sundradas) who will take the ride for the first time in the Stewards' Cup.
"John was scheduled to ride him before, but the horse was scratched. He deserves to have a go, he rides a lot of trackwork for me.
"It'll also be great to see John back on Gentlemen Agreement in the first race ($30,000 Elite Invincible 2018 Stakes, a Class 5 Division A race over 1400m) on Sunday.
"John is the only jockey to have won on this horse so far. I think the horse will appreciate going over 1400m after running over 1600m and then 1000m."
