3 minute read
Former leading three-year-old Lord O’Reilly turned in a much more encouraging effort when donning back blinkers in a barrier trial on Tuesday, taking the lead from the start to never give it up in the 1000m hit-out.
The now five-year-old by O'Reilly did not show much spark at his three starts back from a long one-year absence.
At his last outing wearing winkers last Sunday week, Lord O'Reilly was outpaced early and had to be ridden out to keep in touch, before jockey Daniel Moor decided not to persevere anymore in the home straight.
They ran last to Red Rover, which was a far cry from his sterling wins as a three-year-old against the likes of Zac Kasa or Imperium last year.
But trainer Leslie Khoo got a glimmer of hope the horse he once thought could break his Group drought since taking up office in Singapore in 2008 could be back to himself from the way he made all in Tuesday's barrier trial under jockey Zuriman Zulkifli.
Not the quickest away, the three-time winner mustered speed as he darted for the rails to take up the running.
Zuriman didn't have to touch him much and while Sacred Rebel (Zawari Razali) and So Hi Class (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) did loom up inside the last furlong, Lord O'Reilly strode in within his own steam to score by one length from Sacred Rebel, who just pipped So Hi Class by a nose for second place.
"In the Singapore Guineas, I don't think he handled the track. It was too shifty, and when he came back first-up, he won on the Polytrack, he enjoyed the firmer surface, I think," said the Singaporean handler who had high hopes on the MA Racing No 2 Stable-owned galloper in the 2018 Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m).
"He's not been showing the same form as a three-year-old. I'm not sure what is the problem.
"But at the same time, he's also had only three runs from a break, maybe he needs a few more runs to get back to his peak.
"He came back carrying a bit of condition, but he's trimmed up nicely since. Today, he had blinkers on again in the trial and I was very happy with his win.
"He was a lot more forward, more switched on. I think he has improved.
"There is a Class 3 race over 1200m next week (November 22). He is running in that, and fingers crossed, he runs a better race."
