After dominating his rivals in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on 6 April, Ace Of Diamonds again looked the horse to beat in the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore 3YO Classic (1400m) this Saturday.
The Ricardo Le Grange-trained son of Swiss Ace already had two wins over seven furlongs in a Novice race and a Class 4 race in November and December respectively, suggesting he could be in his wheelhouse at the upcoming highlight race.
Moreover, his South African handler was confident of another strong showing after Ace Of Diamonds overcame a tough wide run to win by a length against a similar field three weeks ago.
“He’s a serious racehorse,” said Le Grange, who has yet to win the 3YO Classic.
“He did it very tough in the (3YO) Sprint and won super. His turn of foot was exceptional.
“He came through the race really well too. He had a nice gallop yesterday with (jockey) Bruno (Queiroz) and Bruno was very happy with what he showed him.
“So I can’t fault the horse or his form and the extra 200m would be ideal.
“Hopefully, he draws a little better than he did in the (3YO) Sprint (barrier eight) and gets a easier run, but Bruno will ride him where he is comfortable and he knows he (Ace Of Diamonds) can quicken when needed.
“Bar a few, it’s a similar field to what he faced last start and I’m excited to see what he can do on Saturday.”
Le Grange will also saddle Strike Gold again after the son of Iffraaj ran fifth in the 3YO Sprint, but thought he could run well with more luck in the running.
“He had no luck in the 3YO Sprint,” he said.
“But he hit the line well enough – as good as anything else in the race – to think he will handle the extra 200m. So, that’s (1400m) not an issue.
“He worked together with Ace Of Diamonds yesterday and (jockey) Bernardo (Pinheiro) was happy with how he went.
“I can’t see any reason – bar bad luck again – why he won’t show his best on Saturday.”
Of his opposition in the Singapore 3YO Classic, Le Grange was happy to worry about his own horses, with one eye on the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on 18 May.
“I always respect the other runners,” he continued.
“There are four runners (Lim’s Bighorn, June, Lim’s Smythe and October) in the nominations that didn’t race in the (3YO) Sprint, but I will worry about what I can control.
“I’ll do what I do, and will let my horses do their thing on Saturday.
“Should all things go well, Ace Of Diamonds will enjoy the mile of the (Singapore) Guineas. He was always heading that way.
“But we’ll see how Strike Gold goes over 1400m before we make a decision on him.
“I originally thought the mile may test him, but these animals may surprise you.
“If he settles and runs home well over 1400m, we will have a look (at the Singapore Guineas) for sure, but let’s get through Saturday first.”
Apart from his two-pronged attack in the 3YO Classic, Le Grange has nominated five other horses on Saturday, with Polytrack specialist, Renzo, an interesting runner in the $70,000 Class 3 race (1200m) on turf.
“I would have preferred a Polytrack sprint for sure,” he said of the Argentinean five-year-old son of Orpen, who has won five times on the all-weather track.
“But the programme is what it is and he (Renzo) was in very consistent form before excuses at his last start (returned lame after running last in a Class 3 race over 1000m on 6 April).
“He won his maiden on the turf (in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m in July 2021) but I know that was a long time ago.
“(Jockey) Carlos (Henrique) will ride him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he (Renzo) runs well on Saturday.”
