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Stage set for Rokk, Star or girl power to Excel for Baertschiger

3 minute read

Trainer Shane Baertschiger gang-tackles this Sunday’s $85,000 Class 2 race over the Polytrack 1100m with a motley crew made up of the resuming Star Of Jupiter and two recent stable transfers, Group 2 winner Excelling and the enigmatic You Rokk.

EXCELLING winning the MERLION TROPHY GROUP 2
EXCELLING winning the MERLION TROPHY GROUP 2 Picture: Singapore Turf Club

Star Of Jupiter has not been sighted since his fast-finishing second to Muraahib in a Class 2 race over the 1200m on turf back in October. It was the I Am Invincible five-year-old's fourth second place since his debut – and only – Kranji win in a Class 3 1000m speed dash one year earlier.

Of the two former Lee Freedmans, Excelling has already had one start for Baertschiger at the inaugural 2021 meeting on January 3, but the six-year-old five-time winner by Manhattan Rain compounded badly after racing handy in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on Polytrack, a far cry from his career-best Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) win in August.

You Rokk, the Australian import who sprang two wins out of the blue and then nothing, will step out for his first outing under the Baertschiger's name, albeit still in Melbourne owner Tony Torcasio's uniquely colourful silks made famous by Australian Group 1 winners Super Cool and Magicool.

The Artie Schiller seven-year-old is just one of the many Freedman horses who had to find a new home with the 2018 Singapore champion trainer vacating his Kranji stables in March to continue his feted training career on the Gold Coast.

While he had the numbers, Baertschiger was, however, not supremely confident one of the three could hit the jackpot this Sunday, but still had valid reasons to harbour some form of hope.

"You Rokk will be at his first run for me. I've only had him for two weeks, so I don't know much about him," said the Australian handler.

"He didn't seem to be an easy horse to have when he was with Lee, but from the way he came from well back at his two wins, he might be suited by the fast pace in the race.

"Excelling  himself will inject speed into the race. He's drawn barrier one and with 59kgs on his back, the four-kilo claim from the girl (Jerlyn Seow Poh Hui) will come in handy.

"That's not the only change (from John Powell to Seow), he'll also have a gear change. He had his tongue over the bit at his last start, so he'll have a tongue-tie on this time.

"Obviously, I know Star Of Jupiter better. He's a horse who could have done so much more, but unfortunately, he's a bleeder, he bled in the EW Barker Trophy (2019).

"We had to look after him. He will also be suited by the speed in the race. He goes well fresh and has a good first-up record."

Baertschiger has given the Aramco Stable-owned sprinter a couple of warm-ups in two barrier trials in which he ran second on both occasions.

"Star Of Jupiter trialled very well, especially last week (January 28)," he said.

"So did Excelling (beat Spirit Of Big Bang by a whopping margin of six lengths in another barrier trial the same morning). As for You Rokk, it's been two weeks between runs, so he's just done pacework and he looks fit and well."

Baertschiger has booked A'Isisuhairi Kasim on Star Of Jupiter while his stable jockey Matthew Kellady will ride You Rokk.


Singapore Turf Club

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