The Steven Burridge-trained Makin received a massive boost to his hopes of winning after the son of Written Tycoon drew barrier one in the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday.
The advantage of the innermost draw was further accentuated when the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) winner, Lim’s Saltoro, and first runner-up, Bestseller, drew wide in gates 11 and nine respectively.
Makin finished half a length behind in third on that occasion and while he was untested over the 1800m trip of the Singapore Derby, Burridge thought a good gate could make all the difference on Sunday.
“It can make a difference for sure,” said Burridge.
“Hopefully we can get a smother up from gate one and go to sleep on someone’s back.
“He is a query over 1800m and probably did weaken late in the Stewards’ Cup, but in saying that, he did get there a little earlier than we thought he would but that was due to circumstances.
“So, if (jockey) Manoel (Nunes) can get a nice run with cover and save him for one last crack at them, and the other two (Lim’s Saltoro and Bestseller) have to work to find their positions, that would be ideal.
“It is a long backstraight, so the other two should get every chance to find a spot, but it’s not as easy as it looks on paper sometimes, so we will take gate one any day of the week.
“We only have to find a length to beat them.”
While Burridge had no control over the barrier draw, he did oversee a preparation that has Makin in fine fettle for his biggest assignment to-date.
“The horse is fit and happy,” said the Australian handler.
“He only raced three weeks ago, and we worked him by himself over 1200m last week.
“He worked 1200m, went evens up the straight yesterday and I’m very happy with how he’s going.
“I haven’t won this race before and it would be great to win the last ever Singapore Derby.
“I ran second with Wild Geese in 2013. Manoel rode him that day, so hopefully we can go one better on Sunday.
“Obviously, the horses to beat are (trainer) Daniel’s (Meagher, Lim’s Saltoro) and (trainer) Ricardo’s (Le Grange, Bestseller) as they had the runs on the board.
“But again, the gate would help our cause and we get our chance.”
The man entrusted to make use of the prized barrier also reckoned that Lim’s Saltoro and Bestseller are the benchmarks, but he also noted Lightning Strike in the mix over a trip that could test most other runners.
“We (Makin) haven’t raced over 1800m before,” said the five-time Singapore champion jockey.
“Neither has Lim’s Saltoro but look at what he did last start.
“Bestseller will have no problem over 1800m and Lightning Strike will find the trip easy; he’s an up-and-coming stayer.
“In saying that, it’s a Group 1 race so you must respect them all but I’m very happy with my horse.
“I galloped him (Makin) last Friday and I told Steven, ‘wow’, he went super that day and he could not be more ready.
“I will put him to sleep from the inside gate and make sure he gets a chance to see out the 1800m. That’s my job.
“At his last start (Stewards’ Cup), I got a beautiful sit behind Lim’s Saltoro and Bestseller but probably went too early as my horse has a short dash.
“So this time, on the Long Course especially, I will wait until I have to go and have one last shot at them.
“I won the Singapore Derby twice before on Spalato (2014) and Infantry (2017) and ran second for Steven on Wild Geese.
“It would be nice to go one better for Steven and win my third Singapore Derby. Fingers crossed all goes well on Sunday.”
While Makin will feature heavily in the market and the finish, Burridge also has two other runners, Galaxy Bar and Jungle Cruise in the field of 13.
“Makin is our best chance but my two other runners deserve their spots,” he explained.
“I own most of Galaxy Bar and he’s in very good form. Sure, the Derby is an ambitious target but he will definitely see out the trip and we have (visiting Australian jockey) Tyler Schiller here to ride him.
“Likewise, Jungle Cruise is well up in Class but will see out the 1800m no problem for (jockey) Bruno (Queiroz). It’s good that the owner (Masatsugu Otani) has a (Singapore) Derby runner too.
“The horses are only four once, so why not have a crack?”
– Singapore Turf Club
