Outfit on a mission to make amends
The Singaporean conditioner - who is sitting on top of the trainers' premiership with 63 wins, 28 more than the second-placed Simon Dunderdale - has entered Outfit for the Class 4B event (1,300m).
On the morning of July 22, the Turn Me Loose six-year-old turned in a smart workout, running the 600m in 40.8sec.
Outfit did not burn up the track at Sungai Besi, but the New Zealand-bred still served notice of his chances of landing a ninth win.
Outfit won five races in Singapore, three with previous trainer Shane Baertschiger and two with Ong. After kicking off his career in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, he has clocked in three more victories.
However, the Happy Baby Stable-owned galloper's last two runs were disappointing.
At his second-last start in a Class 4B race (1,100m) on June 15, Outfit was obliged to race wide the entire trip and, in the end, he beat just two home.
Then, at his last start in a Class 4B event (1,150m) on June 29, when ridden by Akmazani Marzuki, he again took the scenic route home and finished way out of the money in eighth.
But do not be too hasty in dismissing his chances.
Those two races were over shorter trips and Ong has picked a 1,300m event for Outfit. The extra distance might just do the trick.
Over at Lawson Moy's yard, Lim's Sinai is slated as the first reserve in the competitive Class 5A sprint over the 1,150m on July 27, but should he get to race, he could be the one they have to beat.
The five-year-old son of Sooboog is looking good for a winning show - and he showed us on the morning of July 22 when he turned in a really smart training gallop.
On a track rated good, the handsome chestnut stopped the clock at 36.3sec for his sprint over the 600m.
Lim's Sinai - who won three races and finished second on six occasions in 33 starts - is pumped up and ready to go.
An impressive winner on April 20 when he beat Sky Eight by almost three lengths in a Class 5A race over the sharp 1,150m, Lim's Sinai has been marking time and waiting for another opportunity.
Promoted to Class 4 level after that barnstorming win, he never could show his stuff in the subsequent four runs.
But, now that he is back in Class 5, do accord him all the respect.
Owned by Tan Cheong Soon, Lim's Sinai is in his comfort zone and Moy knows that he could be saddling a winner at the Kuala Lumpur meeting on July 27.
In the same race, keep an eye on Super Manjung. She impressed with a 600m gallop in 39.4sec and is looking good to break that sequence of two third-placed finishes.
Prepared by Tiang Kim Choi, the six-year-old mare has just two wins to show from 29 starts, but it is worth noting that she has finished second and third on 13 occasions.
This American-bred by Vancouver is capable, but she also needs a patient ride.
Two runs back, when running a close-up third to Lightning Girl in a Class 5A event (1,275m) on June 15, jockey Shafiq Rizuan explained to the stewards that she had a tendency to lose momentum when touched with the whip, and was best ridden hands and heels.
The pair reunited in a Class 5A race (1,020m) on July 12, and Super Manjung ran home for a creditable third again, albeit behind Sky Eight.
Storm Titan was also impressive on the training track.
From trainer Richard Lim's yard, the three-year-old youngster clocked a nice and neat 37.2sec for his 600m spurt, and all things point to a forward showing from the son of Ace High.
A New Zealand-bred, Storm Titan earned loads of admirers when he starred in three trials from May 14 to June 4.
The Khor Chin Seng-owned galloper won all three hit-outs, which made him a hot favourite at his debut in a Restricted Maiden race (1,200m) on June 15.
Storm Titan looked to be travelling well, but he lost steam over the concluding stages and finished sixth to Strong Dragon.
His next race on June 29 was over the mile, and again, he finished down the field.
However, on the strength of his three wins at the trials and on his good workout on July 22, Storm Titan deserves another chance.
But, like Lim's Sinai, Storm Titan is also an emergency acceptor. However, should he get a spot in the starting line-up, he could turn out to be the pick of the pack.
brian@sph.com.sg
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