3 minute read
Easy New Year Cup winner Nowyousee is up for a stiffer task in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1100m on Polytrack this Friday, but trainer Tan Kah Soon remains upbeat the luck of another New Year can smile on him again - of the Chinese kind.
The handy O'Reilly five-year-old rang up his seventh win for the Titanium Racing Stable in the traditional Group 3 season opener on January 1, but first for Tan since moving from James Peters in March 2019. Ridden by apprentice jockey Krisna Thangamani, Nowyousee was off and gone at the top of the straight after getting away cheaply in front.
With four of his seven wins recorded over 1100m, Friday night's event should be even more up his alley, especially as the on-pace sprinter jumps from a low draw in No 4, but Tan is mindful of the better cattle in the mix this time.
"I have plenty of respect for Excelling and River Radiance. With no disrespect to Lim's Dream, these two horses are better, but he's also got his chance," said the Godolphin-trained Penang handler.
"He's carrying more weight as he's now at the top end of Class 2, but that's to be expected. Races for such horses are few and far between.
"Excelling and River Radiance will be hard to beat. Excelling's last-start win was impressive and River Radiance was unlucky at his last start.
"But my horse is okay. He's maintained his form since the New Year Cup and has been working well.
"In the New Year Cup, we rode him as we saw it, and it turned out to be a forward race. He doesn't have to lead, it all depends on how the Polytrack rides on the day.
"Jimmy (Wong Chin Chuen) rode him back from barrier 11 two runs back and he ran very well.
"He did a splint after one of his races. We have him a break and he's come back in good shape, but except for one race, he's never drawn a good barrier since the Merlion Trophy.
"That mid-season break has done him a lot of good, and everything just worked out well in the New Year Cup. Things just fell into place."
Given the current suspensions incurred by Krisna as well as his go-to jockey, Wong, Tan has called upon Marc Lerner for the steering duties this time.
The French jockey does not ride all that often for Tan, but has struck paydirt on two of the rare occasions they paired up - Country Boss last year and Hooga Net this year.
"I galloped Nowyousee twice last week and I rode him yesterday. He felt good," said Lerner.
Hooga Net's win actually came on New Year's Day, marking a flying start for Tan with a training double, with no subsequent wins coming in thereafter, but Tan can't complain with his 2020 run thus far.
"Yes, I haven't won since the double on the first day, but from 30 runners, I have a first-four strike rate of 46.67%," said Tan.
"You can't fault that. Things are going well."
