3 minute read
Trainer Steven Burridge foresees a big test for Glasgow in Sunday’s $1 million Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m), but is rather confident he won’t be out of his depth.
Glasgow has gained enough points in three wins since his Kranji debut in Class 4 Premier company to secure a berth in the prestigious third and last Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
He performed creditably in the first two Legs, producing the better run in the second one, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) with a closing seventh place, only 2 ¼ lengths off the winner What's New - his nemesis in the first Leg as well, the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m).
The way Glasgow finished off in the Stewards' Cup does suggest the 1800m would not pose any problem.
The former Victorian came with a handy record of one win (1600m) and three placings in Australia when known as Mujaadil and prepared by Darren Weir for Sheikh Khalifa al Maktoum. He also attempted the 1800m once – in the Listed 2018 Port Adelaide Guineas in which he ran eighth.
"I'm not worried about that part of the race. He will get the journey," said Burridge who has yet to win the Singapore Derby in 15 years of training at Kranji.
"I was very happy with his two runs in the first two Legs. He kept working to the line, especially in the Stewards' Cup.
"He's come through the race very well and we'll just have to wait until the race to see what happens.
"It's a very even and competitive race, so you never know. Marc (Lerner) will ride him again as he knows him well and has done nothing wrong at his last two rides."
The French jockey, who returns from a careless riding ban on Derby day, actually has three associations with the MMW Stable-owned gelding as he also rode him to an unplaced finish in a Class 3 race earlier in the year.
Lerner may not have been aboard at Glasgow's three victories at Kranji (Noh Senari at two and Barend Vorster at the last one in a Class 3 race over 1400m on May 5), but he seems to have sussed him out well.
"I was very happy with his last two runs when I rode him," said Lerner.
"I have not ridden him in trackwork, but I did tell Steve that they need to sharpen him up a little. At his last start, I stayed behind Sacred Croix, but he was a bit flat.
"It's only when I was in the clear that he started finding. I've left it to Steve, he knows what fine-tuning to do to sharpen him up.
"He's an honest horse and is easy to ride. If he gets a clear run with no problem, he will show his true colours.
"He should then be able to finish in the first three or four."
Glasgow is a son of Not A Single Doubt, who is incidentally the sire of the last Group 1 winner at Kranji – Hong Kong's Southern Legend in the Kranji Mile on May 25.
