Trainer Shane Baertschiger is fairly bullish about unpredictable galloper Blue Swede getting his act together in the New Year Cup on Sunday.
Blue Swede is a seven-time winner between 1200m and 1600m, including three times over Polytrack, but has often gone through some extreme form reversals when thought to be hitting his peak.
Going on recent formline, it would seem the mojo is back and Baertschiger is sure trying to capitalise on that window period for as long as it lasts.
Undeniably talented, Blue Swede arguably ran the race of his life at his last start when third to Bahana as a $181 shot in the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) last November.
The drop back to the 1900m journey on Polytrack of the Group 3 New Year Cup is no cause for concern to his Australian handler – far from it.
“His run in the Gold Cup was terrific even if the tempo was too slow,” said Baertschiger.
“He’s looking for more ground and also seems to be more consistent now, which is a good sign. He won his barrier trial in good style last week, and everything seems to indicate he is in a good place now as we all know how unpredictable he can be at times.
“I also think he goes better on Polytrack. When he runs over 1200m, he can’t keep up and has six or seven horses in front of him, and finds it hard to make ground.”
Though mindful of the handy opposition the O’Reilly six-year-old is facing in the traditional New Year feature, he has no reason to believe the brown gelding he also owns, will let him down.
“There are some pretty good horses in the race this year. Ricardo’s (Le Grange) horses, especially Perfect P (last year’s winner) and Time Odyssey, who is a Polytrack specialist and ran second in the Gold Cup, will be hard to beat,” he said.
“But my horse is also going well and he has drawn barrier one. Matty (Kellady) knows him well and going on his run in the Gold Cup, you would think he would be a fairly strong chance.
“Dropping back to 1900m is not a problem at all. All he needs is a fast pace and he will be right in the mix.
“We’ll see how he goes and how he pulls up, but the Fortune Bowl could be his next race, even if it’s now run over the mile.”
The Group 3 Fortune Bowl is the traditional feature race held on the second day of the Chinese New Year and will for the first time be dropped from 2000m to 1600m. It is the next Group event after the New Year Cup on the Singapore racing calendar, and will be run on January 29.
Kellady, who besides that third place in the Gold Cup, also boasts three wins with Blue Swede, felt the galloper has not gone backwards since his last start.
“The horse is going well. I’ve ridden him in trackwork and he felt in good shape,” said the Malaysian hoop.
“Before the Gold Cup, I would say his form was nothing much to shout about, and he still put in a very good run. To me, he has maintained his condition since.”
– Singapore Turf Club
