3 minute read

Trainer Alwin Tan is one of those who believe you need to first get a ticket to hit the jackpot.

The Singaporean saddles Universal Empire in Sunday's three-year-old feature, the $175,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m), which has garnered only a smallish field of 10 horses, no doubt largely due to one horse having scared off the opposition, the unbeaten Inferno.

And to a lesser extent another horse with the same three sticks next to his name, Field Marshal.

Tan is aware Universal Empire has his job cut out against the terror duo, not to mention there are other smart three-year-olds like Rocket Star, Big Hearted and Bluestone in the mix, but he is not in it to race for consolation prizes.

Universal Empire  may start in three-digit area on the market, but the son of Moshe is not without some ability. After dodging the two-year-old Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, twice running an encouraging fourth in open company, he has since thrived as a three-year-old with two wins (1000m and 1200m on Polytrack) and one second in three runs.

At his last start on October 13, he won on the Polytrack 1200m, albeit in modest Class 4 company. In-form jockey Benny Woodworth was in the irons then and will be back on this Sunday.

Tan is under no illusions the Saas Fee Stakes, a race he won in 2015 with Dragon Fury (it was not a 3YO race then), will be a different kettle of fish, more so when his ward has drawn the widest in 10, but in a season, which he qualifies as "tough", he said he stood nothing to lose.

"Inferno and Field Marshal are the horses to beat. I don't know if my horse can level up with this kind of horse, but we can only try," said the 2016 Singapore champion trainer.

"He likes the distance and he's the type of horse with some speed. He's won on Polytrack only, but he ran on grass on debut and didn't do badly.

"The horse has maintained his condition after his last win. I was happy with his gallop yesterday.

"Unfortunately, he's drawn a bad barrier, but we can only live in hope. It's up to Benny to find a good position for him now."

The Cheng Yong Whay-owned Universal Empire is actually the last horse (27th winner) who visited the winner's enclosure for Tan, meaning it has been nearly a month since the last toast. After a first half that began in earnest (he even sat second to Cliff Brown in February), Tan has gradually slid down the table.

"This year has been tough, I've lost horses, owners have left, but I still have a loyal group of owners supporting me and I thank them for their patience," said Tan who sits in ninth spot on the log, a far cry from his 2016 golden era or that of War Affair in 2014 and Infantry in 2017.

"I have around 40 horses left, but some horses have issues and I also can't find a race for them, like Wolf Warrior who hasn't raced for two months.

"He last won in a Class 3 race and his ratings have gone up to 80, which makes it tougher for him in Class 2.

"Galvarino has also not raced for a long time (since last-start win in March), but he's coming back. We need to get new owners and it's not easy in the current climate.

"Universal Empire has been one of the good horses to keep our name up in lights this year, and I look forward to seeing how he will measure up in the Saas Fee."