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Trainer Leslie Khoo and the Toast Trusts Stable launch the first of their new fleet of South American-breds this Saturday as Sing Our Song lines up in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1100m.
The one-from-one Kranji barrier trial winner boasts an exciting record of three wins (1100m to 1200m) and one second (1200m) from only four starts in Uruguay when racing as Pissarro.
Toast Trusts' principal owner Constance Cheng has imported the Brazilian-bred five-year-old entire with one race uppermost in her mind as the immediate target, the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m), the only Polytrack feature left on the Singapore fixtures, and which will be staged at the season's last meeting on November 27.
The group has also acquired an Argentinian-bred going by the name of Mesmerizing here, but known as Personal Skill back home.
An entire as well, Mesmerizing with Wong Chin Chuen up ran in the same barrier trial Sing Our Song won on August 26, but was less forward, beating one home. The chestnut tracked his stablemate throughout but folded when the tempo went up a notch in the home straight.
"Sing Our Song is a sprinter with a smart record in Uruguay. He showed ability from his work here," said Khoo who has yet to break his Group race duck in 14 years of training at Kranji.
"He ran a nice trial two weeks ago (August 26). He showed good gate speed and was quite impressive.
"Mesmerizing may not be fit enough, but he does look ready. They're both entires but they're both quiet and seem to have acclimatised well."
Assistant-trainer Stephen Crutchley was also on hand to give more than a cursory look at Sing Our Song's and Mesmerizing's first serious hit-out, with obviously a keener eye cast on the one they hope can become their next Makkura (2013 Group 3 Paititi Gold Trophy winner) or Fame Star (2019 EW Barker Trophy winner).
"Sing Our Song came to us in June but he hasn't been rushed. We first started walking and trotting him, built him up, and finally trialled him a couple of weeks ago," said the Kiwi horseman.
"Harry was also happy with the trial. He didn't push him, he just left him on his own, and every time Katak came to him, he would kick again.
"If you watch his wins in Uruguay, he passed others and kicked on. I'm pretty sure he'll go well here.
"The Merlion Trophy is the race we brought him over for, so hopefully, he makes the grade."
Sing Our Song is by Midshipman, a Breeders' Cup Juvenile (1700m) winning son of Unbridled's Song, which could well be the inspiration for the new name.
Midshipman is not at his first presence at Kranji as he is already represented by another Brazilian-bred progeny, Class 4 galloper Wealth Elite. The Steven Burridge-trained five-year-old is no world beater but has more than earned his oats with three wins and three placings in 17 starts.
By Argentinian sire Cosmic Trigger (x Lizard Island), Mesmerizing may need a little more time as well as more ground.
With the South American bloodstock agent, who has the Chilean-bred Hong Kong Group 1 winner Panfield among others on his portfolio, owning a share in Mesmerizing, it's a possible pointer of the four-year-old's potential.
"We haven't found a race for Mesmerizing yet. It'll probably be a Class 4 race," said Crutchley.
"He needs further distance and may need more time, too. The bloodstock agent who bought him and Sing Our Song for us has a share in him.
"He sells a lot of horses to Hong Kong, including Panfield, and has also recommended two horses for Constance in Hong Kong."
