Lizard`s Desire this weekend

Like Shea on top Race Card

Presvis would be my selection, but all the best to the Lizard. (tu)

Son of Lizard Island???
Wait a minute .......

Rocket Man odds-on despite problematic draw

Singapore: Local hero Rocket Man is no bigger than 8-11 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes for Sunday's Group1 KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji despite having to overcome the supposed hindrance of a draw in stall six for the 6f contest.

The Golden Jubilee Stakes favourite beat all bar Sacred Kingdom in the race 12 months ago when racing form stall 11 and another Hong Kong raider Green Birdie has bagged the much-coveted stall one draw Sacred Kingdom raced from in 2009.


Gold Trail will race from stall two on Sunday and the Group 1 winner in New Zealand on New Year'sday, is the latest star Australian-trained sprinter for whom a trip to Royal Ascot is looming larger on connections' agenda.

Trainer Gary Portelli, who operates out of Sydney and Melbourne, and Gold Trail's owners the Atkinson family were given serious details of the Ascot opportunities for the first time on Thursday, and immediately Portelli said: "If he wins on Sunday, we'll seriously consider going on to England.

"Now we know more about what going to Ascot involves, we're definitely interested, and even if he is beaten but runs well, we will look seriously at travelling to England rather thangoing back home."

Gold Trail's mission would be for the King's Stand Stakes rather than the Golden Jubilee, Portelli said.

After drawing stall two the trainer said: "That couldn't be better, because we will try to get away quickly and keep the lead."

Portelli's only fear is that torrential rain, which has fallen on each of the last two days, might come just before the race and alter fast-draining ground that jockeys riding work onThursday morning described as "on the fast side."

He added: "Gold Trail likes it firm. He finished 16th of 16 after he won the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie, but the ground was a bog, when they watered the track and then it rained."

Gold Trail has since finished a close sixth to Ortensia in the Galaxy Handicap at Randwick, after a near-three-month break, when conceding weight to all but one in the 14-runner field.

Stabling arrangements have been made for the two Hong Kong-trained possible for Royal Ascot's sprints. Happy Zero, trained by John Moore, will lodge with Andrew Balding, while Joy And Fun, winner of the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai for trainer Derek Cruz, will stay with Nick Littmoden in Newmarket.

Presvis handed tricky draw in International

Singapore: Presvis will have to overcome a tricky wide draw in stall ten if he is to go one better than last year in Sunday's Singapore Airlines International Cup.

Twelve months ago Ryan Moore's mount finished a head behind Gloria De Campeao in the 1m2f Group 1 having raced from the widest draw of all in stall 12 and connections were trying to pick the positives out of the situation after they once again found themselves out of luck at the draw ceremony.


Luca Cumani's assistant-trainer Charlie Henson said: "At least this time it's not my fault - that was the last number left.

"One good thing is that the two horses with pace have bothdrawn inside gates - Shadow Gate [stall one] and Jolie's Shinju [stall two] - and should be able to ensure a good pace."

Last year's winner will race from stall six on his first start since his surprise win in the Emirates Dubai World Cup and Henson added: "Hopefully Gloria De Campeao will come from the outside and push them as well."

Earlier Presvis had been seen on the Polytrack after which Henson said of Ladbrokes' 5-2 favourite: "He cantered over 1,400m and he looked good.

"He then went to the paddock again for another look. He was all relaxed."

Star-studded Singapore field awaits Presvis

Preview: Singapore, Sunday 1.40pm BST (live on ATR/RUK)

Kranji: Singapore Airlines International Cup (Group 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+

LUCA CUMANI'S international stalwart Presvis faces a cosmopolitan field of fellow Dubai regulars when he bids to land one of the world's most lucrative prizes in Singapore on Sunday.

Ryan Moore was due to fly out overnight to partner the popular six-year-old, beaten just a head in last year's SIA Cup by subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao.


Presvis went to Singapore's $3 million showpiece last term after finishing second in the Dubai Duty Free and then recording his sole Group 1 victory in the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

He has followed exactly the same campaign trail in 2010, albeit with rather less auspicious results.

So often a hostage to fortune given his hold-up style of running, Presvis was well beaten behind shock winner Al Shemali in Dubai and then could never get competitive from the rear off a tepid pace in Hong Kong, where he came home late for firth behind Viva Pataca - three places behind Dubai runner-up Lizard's Desire (Mike de Kock/Kevin Shea), who bids to reverse World Cup placings.

However, connections are optimistic that the presence of habitual front-runner Gloria De Campeao may ensure a decent clip for him to shoot at in the closing stages.

On the other hand, it also means Presvis faces a strong rival in the ex-Brazilian horse, who just held on in a frantic finish for the narrowest of photo-finish victories over Sunday's rival Lizard's Desire in the world's richest race.

Gloria De Campeao's regular rider TJ Pereira is missing this time, leaving Brazilian compatriot Bruno Reis to take over.

Owner Stefan Friborg's racing manager Patrick Barbe reckons Gloria De Campeao (Pascal Bary) will be a tough nut to crack.

"He's always the same wherever he goes. He works well, eats well, sleeps well," said Barbe. "That's just him. He never misses a beat.

"He is a Brazilian-bred and probably feels at his best at this time of the year here," he added.

"This feels just like the Arc in France for him and we are thinking of sending him to York to race in the Juddmonte International after Singapore."

Royston Ffrench renews his association with Al Shemali, trained by UAE champion Ali Rashid Al Raihe as he beats to prove his Dubai Duty Free victory was no fluke. Good luck with that project, as the saying goes.


John Egan rides former Mick Channon-trained Lahaleeb (Fawzi Nass), now trained in Bahrain after Egan signed the chit for one million guineas for the EP Tayor Stakes winner at the 2009 Tattersalls December sales on behalf of owner Sheikh Khaled A Rahim.

What they say

Pascal Bary, trainer of Gloria De Campeao

"The horse is very well. He's in exactly the same condition as last year. He couldn't be any better actually, as he's already at his best. The opposition is pretty strong, though. Presvis, Al Shemali and Lizard's Desire are all very good horses.

"We've got a good draw - six - the same as last year. Getting a new jockey is not a worry as he's such an easy horse to ride."

Luca Cumani, trainer of Presvis

"Last year he was beaten a head by Gloria De Campeao after coming from well back in a race in which the winner was much better placed. This Singapore Cup looks a tougher renewal than usual, but in a way we are glad that Gloria De Campeao is taking part as it at least guarantees Presvis the strong gallop the lack of which blighted his chance in Hong Kong. The Japanese horses in the two inside stalls are also front runners by all accounts, which is a further plus, and hopefully Presvis will find things dropping more kindly than they have lately.

"Ryan is of the opinion that he gets too fired up if he is put in the race too soon and given the likely pace scenario, we'll keep to our tried and trusted method from yet another outside draw." Speaking on lucacumani.com


Ghulam Jelani Saiddiqui, assistant trainer to Ali Rashid Al Raihe, trainer of Al Shemali

"We've done our part and he's looking fit and ready. The only concern is he has not raced since the Duty Free, and he did have a couple of runs before he won in Dubai."

Kevin Shea, jockey of Lizard's Secret

"He's a fit horse and is ready for Sunday, and the number nine draw is fine by me. It should enable me to sit in just behind the leaders. It's amazing; he's been on the go a long time, but he's bubbling, and from the work he's done in Singapore, I'd say he's as good as ever. Sometimes horses go backwards after the World Cup, but he hasn't, and he definitely hasn't gone back since Hong Kong."

Yuichi Shibayama, jockey of Yamanin Kingly

"I feel confident and am very happy with the draw."

John Egan, jockey of Lahaleeb

"I'm happy with the No. 4 draw; anything under seven would have been fine, so that I can get behind the speed horses. She's very well. Her temperature was up for a day after she came from Dubai, but her blood's 100 per cent now. She's better than when she ran such a good race behind Al Shemali on Dubai World Cup night, I think."

Brilliant win for Lizard, great ride, well done to MDK and all the connections X(

Brilliant stuff, especially seeing a repeat of the World Cup duel. Third horse a bit unlucky.

Well done Lizard!

..and Kobus...what a horse you bred!!!

Congrats Kobus

It's time they make a movie of this little horse........ mother from the game farm to world stage......the little AKKEDIS the best in the world....or very close to it....

Shot Kobus just had a word with Mitch Wiese,the horses first trainer,i believe youguys need more recognition.