Sling’s Mile run worthy of a Singapore showing

Singapore Sling won the 2018 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).

Hong Kong-based South African trainer Tony Millard could return to the Lion City with a worthy Group 1 Kranji Mile candidate in five-year-old gelding Singapore Sling.

Millard, who saddled the Kranji Mile runner-up Horse Of Fortune for a Hong Kong one-two last year, would be brimming with confidence should he make the trip across the South China Sea after Singapore Sling finished an eye-catching second to champion miler Beauty Generation in the FWD Champions Mile on Sunday, April 28 at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The South African-bred five-year-old son of Philanthropist, who finished second in the 2018 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) after winning the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), has not won since, though never disgraced at top level and Sunday’s performance was a step in the right direction.

“That was a very good run. That is what he showed us last year,” Millard said. “We know 1600m is not quite his trip, he’s [better suited] over 1800m so the options are open now.”

Options being either a trip down to Singapore, or north-east to Tokyo Racecourse for the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) on June 2.

“We’ve already been invited to the Yasuda Kinen or we go to Singapore – it all just depends on what the boss wants to do, so we’ll leave it up to him,” Millard went on to say.

Jockey Karis Teetan added: “It’s the best he’s ever felt for me and he fought all the way up the straight. It’s just a shame that he has to run into one like Beauty Generation!”

Other Hong Kong-trained horses to receive invites are last year’s Kranji Mile winner Southern Legend along with stablemate Rise High, while trainer Benno Yung Ting-pan’s hulking grey Pingwu Spark also holds an invite.