Le Grange happy Everest peaking at the right time

By Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club

American-bred three-year-olds are a bit of uncharted waters for Ricardo Le Grange, but Everest couldn’t have provided better on-the-job training while delighting the South African trainer with the way he has quickly furnished into a real racehorse.

Le Grange’s trained eyes picked up ability in the Filipino-owned Ghostzapper colt fairly early, and it was translated on the tracks with a debut win in a Restricted Maiden race and an unlucky second (bumped several times) in Novice company last month, both in 1200m turf events.

They were perfect dress rehearsals towards the same course and distance of his first big test in this Sunday’s $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint.

But to Le Grange, the bonus is Everest’s precocious professionalism. It has given the fifth-season trainer the confidence to take immaturity out of the equation when tackling a Group race.

“I’ve not had many American-breds, and Everest is probably the youngest one I’ve had,” said Le Grange.

“But I’ve worked with horses for so long that they kind of tell you when you’ve got a precocious early type of runner – and Everest has proven he was a young horse who has matured overnight.

“Everything he showed in his early days told us he had ability, but in the mornings, he used to be your typical colt.

“He was doing things wrong in terms of his mannerisms, like you had to lead him onto certain tracks, he was not concentrating in his work.

“Let’s not forget he’s only two and a half years old (being a Northern Hemisphere-bred), but he’s really progressed from race to race. He’s put it together, and he’s matured mentally in the very short time he’s been with us.

“He’s not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination, the penny hasn’t fully dropped yet. He’s six months behind the others, it’s a big ask, but I believe he’s up to it.”

An impressive winning barrier trial when he collared and beat leading Sprint nominee Lim’s Kosciuszko into second place last week certainly shored up that belief, but if racing fans’ appetites had been whetted, the real showdown won’t be happening. Trainer Daniel Meagher took Kranji by surprise when he withdrew his undefeated star on Tuesday.

However, Le Grange said the field still remained very competitive, with or without Lim’s Kosciuszko, who, ironically, is named after Australia’s highest peak, which would have made for a clash of two summits!

“I respect every runner in the race,” he said.

“I focus on my horse and I was very happy with his prep. He trialled exceptionally well last Thursday.

“He’s got a lovely draw (four), which will give us many options. We’ll then push on to the 1400m race (Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on July 18).

“It’s unfortunate there is no Guineas as he would have been a lovely Guineas horse.”

The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge is for the second year running called off. Last year, the Sprint was cancelled, but it’s the third Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) which has been dropped this season.

Former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen (who rode Everest to his last-start second and in the barrier trial) will ride Everest, and it’s a budding partnership that looks set to develop beyond Sunday.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with somebody. In the past I had Barend Vorster and Nooresh Juglall,” said Le Grange.

“The problem is a lot of jockeys can’t commit all the time when they have other commitments.

“But Jimmy has put his hand up to start committing to the stable. In any jockey-trainer relationship, there is respect and trust and I think I can start building on that with Jimmy.

“I feel it should be made public as you’re starting to see I’m using him now more than before.

“(Everest’s owner) Paolo (Mendoza) is also very happy to have Jimmy on his horses.”

While Wong boasts only one winning combination (Senor Don on March 6) with Le Grange thus far, he recently partnered the Filipino businessman’s stable banner Rocket Star for creditable runs at his last two starts that came at Group 1 level, finishing second in the Lion City Cup and third in the Kranji Mile.

In hot form this campaign, Wong currently sits in fourth spot on the Singapore jockeys’ premiership on 19 winners, only five behind lamplighter, four-time Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric.