By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
When the first round of nominations for the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) were revealed on Wednesday, one had to scroll down to near the bottom of the list to find the name ‘Istataba’.
The four-year-old Argentinean-bred mare is ranked 25th out of 27 nominees in the order of entry based on ratings, but should she win the $50,000 Class 4 race (2000m) over on Saturday, that would have her one step closer to a start in the iconic feature on November 19.
Formerly slated as the third leg of the now-defunct Singapore Triple Crown series, the Singapore Gold Cup will be the last feature race to be held at the penultimate meeting of the season, five weeks after the $300,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) is run next Saturday (October 15).
Other than the attrition rate of early nominations in the Singapore Gold Cup, the Al Rashid Stable-owned stayer would probably need to win again to be a starter in the final field of 16, but not many will be betting against her on Saturday, given that she has won her last two starts over the mile.
Those wins – both in Class 4 company on the turf on July 31 and August 28 – were scored on the back of two placings, which included an eye-catching second behind the smart Golden Monkey in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m); and that form will hold up in most company.
Trainer Michael Clements – who has four other horses (Top Knight, Big Hearted, Prosperous Return and Tangible) nominated for the Singapore Gold Cup and also the QEII Cup – thinks Istataba deserves a chance if she wins on Saturday.
“If she (Istataba) can win this race and another one, she should get a rating high enough to get into the Gold Cup,” said Clements on Thursday.
“She’s obviously done very well winning her last two races and her pedigree (by Treasure Beach and out of Coordenada) suggests that 2000m is her trip.
“Everyone involved with her in Argentina said she is crying out for 2000m and she has enough mileage under her belt now to show what she has to offer over what should be her best distance.
“And running well over 1400m at Group level (the 3YO Classic) shows she has some class about her and that is a good indication of her ability when getting over further.”
Clements thinks Istataba has found another winnable race this Saturday and was more than happy to keep his apprentice jockey, Ibrahim Mamat, on board as the young Malaysian rode her at the two recent wins.
“Look, he has shown himself as a really effective rider,” said Clements of the first-year apprentice jockey, who has eight wins to his name at the exceptional strike rate of 21.05%.
“He doesn’t use the whip a lot – he pushes them out – and horses run for him. That suits fillies as they can be more temperamental than geldings.”
The Clements-Ibrahim combination also have a strong hand in two other races on Saturday with Quarter Back and Greatham Girl both winning chances in the $70,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1100m and the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m respectively.
“I think if Quarter Back gets away okay (from the barriers), he will go close – he’s knocking on the door – and Greatham Girl looks well-placed in that field. Both will be strong late for Ibrahim,” he said.
And while the Zimbabwean-born handler – who won the Singapore trainers’ premiership back in 2020 – sits on 13 wins behind leader Donna Logan in the current season, three of his other runners could also salute on Saturday.
“I think my race has been run in the (trainers’) premiership but maybe I can make a late bid to keep it interesting,” laughed Clements.
“Petrograd (running in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m) has speed but he has been a bit one-paced late in his races, so being back in trip will suit him and (jockey) Vlad (Duric) stays on.
“(Jockey) Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) rides Pattaya again (in the $70,000 Class 3 Division 1 over 1100m) and he is always an each-way hope in that type of race.
“I’m really looking forward to Coin Toss’ race ($50,000 Class 4 over 1200m).
“He’s a nice horse, won well last start (in the Restricted Maiden over 1200m on September 10) for Simon and should go well for him again on the turf.
“This field is like a mini three-year-old feature race, so whatever happens, the form from the race will be worth following.”
