The Singapore Pools Trophy may be the supporting act to the Group 1 Coronation Cup (1,600m) on Nov 16, but to reigning Malaysian champion trainer Simon Dunderdale, it is anything but a consolation cup.
The Kuala Lumpur-based New Zealander would have actually loved to revisit Ipoh’s mile feature to keep a good run going. He joined the honour roll in 2023 with Good Fight, and nearly went back-to-back if not for an in-form Mega Gems raining down on his parade last year.
Stable star Antipodean could have been a shoo-in for this year’s renewal, but Dunderdale decided to think out of the square.
“I’m trying something different with Antipodean. He’s never been tried beyond the mile,” he said.
“Instead of trucking up to Ipoh, we’ll give him a let-up and set him for the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (Dec 7) – there’s no reason why he can’t get 2,000m.”
Dunderdale may have eschewed the Coronation Cup path this time round, but another race on the undercard appealed.
Perak Turf Club’s RM100,000 (S$31,000) Open speed dash (1,200m) named in honour of Singapore’s gaming outfit looked like the ideal interstate race for his rising star Fright.
It comes three weeks after the Brazen Beau four-year-old was
rolled for the first time at his fourth start
in a Class 3 (1,020m) race in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25, but he had excuses.
Ridden by regular partner Khaw Choon Kit, Fright had to spend some petrol to muster his customary speed to land in front, only to be kept honest by Stop The Water for most of the way.
