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After a successful debut in horse ownership in Malaysia, new Kuwaiti owner Fahad Ibrahim Khalid Al-Rashid is now testing the waters across the Causeway.
The Malaysian-based real estate developer will have his first Singapore-based runner, Voluminous, a four-year-old daughter of Nathaniel (sire of global champion mare Enable) in this Friday night's $50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m at Kranji.
Fahad was actually supposed to have had his Singapore baptism of fire on Sunday, but Harbour Approach was scratched on veterinary grounds.
Voluminous and Harbour Approach are two of a trio of horses Fahad recently sent to trainer Saimee Jumaat after kicking off their racing careers on the Malayan Racing Association circuit (MRA) with trainer Mohd Sukri up in Kuala Lumpur.
Interestingly, both Harbour Approach (x Direct Approach) and the third horse, Lonely Boy (x Lethal Force), are undefeated in two Malaysian starts earlier in the year.
Three wins came in Kuala Lumpur, with only Harbour Approach's last-start win recorded elsewhere, in Penang in a 1400m race. Voluminous is the only one making her Asian debut.
All three are part of a dozen of English-breds and Irish-breds Fahad brought to Kuala Lumpur to be prepared by Sukri. The Kranji trio all came with a record of one win apiece in the UK, - Harbour Approach (1408m at Kempton), Lonely Boy (1207m at Wolverhampton) and Voluminous (2200m at Lingfield).
Saimee said it was Sukri who gave him the leg-up to become his Singapore counterpart to Fahad's new foray. Ex-Kranji trainer Bernard Ang's former assistant-trainer also picked Michael Clements to train So Hi Class (x Dark Angel), who also makes his debut three races later in Friday's $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m.
"Mr Fahad has been racing horses in the UK and US and wanted to race horses in Malaysia and Singapore," explained Saimee.
"Basically, Malaysia is the first stop and those who are good enough are then sent down to Singapore."
While excited with Voluminous marking hopefully the dawn of a fruitful association, Saimee remained realistic about a fairytale start.
"She was hard to get into the barriers, and she was also not used to the change in environment," said the former Singapore eight-time champion jockey.
"John Pepe (Singapore Turf Club starter) and the handlers managed to load her in, and she has since passed her barrier test.
"Based on her record, she is more of a 2000m mare. I think she will need the run on Friday, I'm not expecting much from her first-up.
"I'll take it one step at a time with her, just like with the other two horses owned by Mr Fahad. Harbour Approach had to be scratched on Sunday after he came down with a sore foot, it was nothing serious, and Lonely Boy will be trialling next week.
"Those two seem to be 1400m horses, but will probably run first-up over 1200m."
Saimee said Fahad, whom he has never met in person, will unfortunately not be on hand to watch his first runners go around Kranji on Friday.
"I haven't met Mr Fahad yet, I've dealt with his racing manager and Sukri so far, but I'm sure he'll come down to the races at Kranji one day," he said.
"I'm very thankful for the opportunity, and to my friend Sukri for the recommendation. We always look forward to having new owners on board."
Saimee is putting his four-kilo claiming apprentice jockey Yusoff Fadzli on Voluminous while French jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin has been booked by Clements to ride So Hi Class.
Meanwhile, Joey Ramsden has decided he would not be taking up the offer to train at Kranji.
The South African-based English trainer was allocated stables by the Singapore Turf Club in late April. Ramsden recently wrote a letter to inform the Club he would not relocate to Singapore.
