New Zealand Singapore Airlines International Cup challenger Spin Around wrapped up his preparation with a brilliant gallop on the turf track on Friday morning.

Ridden by race jockey Gavin McKeon, the Spinning World seven-year-old sprinted home in a nippy 35.2 seconds for the final 600m, sending a broad smile on trainer Steven Cooper’s face.

“That was an excellent piece of work. He’s very fit, especially after Wednesday’s gallop opened him up,” said Cooper.

“We’ll just take it easy with him tomorrow (Saturday) to sweeten him up. Back home we would always take him out in the paddocks to have a bit of time off before a race.

“The great thing about him is he has such a good recovery rate. He is now spot-on for the race.”

Cooper added that the improvement in Spin Around from his days in Hong Kong had been remarkable.

“It’s like having a two-year-old that is developing,” said Cooper. “He’s getting stronger as he’s getting older.

“I think he’s got more speed in him now than when he was in Hong Kong.”

Despite drawing well off the track in 13, Cooper said the draw actually was a benefit to the gelding.

“He hates being near the rail,” said Cooper. “He’s never happy with inside draws. With this draw on Sunday he should be able to keep out of trouble.”

Since his time here in Singapore, Cooper said it was a bit scary how well everything had progressed through the trip.

McKeon said the gallop on Friday was excellent.

“I don’t know what the time was, but it was fast,” he said.

Another SIA Cup runner who caught the eye was Traffic Guard who had hitherto been restricted to slow work on the Polytrack.

He worked for the first time before trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, who arrived in Singapore from UK on Thursday evening, 24 hours later than scheduled.

But she wasted no time on Friday morning, walking the track a little after 3.30am, before committing Traffic Guard to a jog on the fibresand, followed by a warm up on the Polytrack and a “swinging” canter (three-quarter pace) over five furlongs on the Tapeta surface, quickening up to reel off the last 600m in 36.6 seconds.

“I’d have gone a bit further, but it takes him a couple of furlongs to pull up,” she joked.

“Everything seems to have gone well with him, but it’s a tough race, and he’s not ideally drawn in 12, but then he’ll be coming from off the pace anyway,” she added.

The French pair of Balius and Musical Way gave their Greek owners, who attended trackwork for the first time this morning, something to cheer about with two quicker exercises.

Musical Way, who has drawn barrier 15 in the SIA Cup, cantered one round on the fibresand and picked up the speed inside the last 800m to record 43.3 seconds for the 600m.

“The fibresand is better today, more even. She had a nice relaxed outing on it and now it’s all about maintaining her condition,” said Loic Michel, assistant trainer to Philippe van de Poele.

Balius, who ran second to Archipenko in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, looked well within himself as he cantered one lap over the fibresand and quickened up in the second lap to be timed at 41.2 seconds for the final 600m.

“As the fibresand is a lot better this morning, we didn’t feel it was necessary to switch to the turf,” said Stephane Duprey, assistant trainer to Carlos Laffon-Parias.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned for us. He’s come down his weight and is looking sharp.”

South Africa’s Jay Peg and Mourilyan worked individually as usual, making their way down the Tapeta track to come back around for a three-quarter pace spurt down the Polytrack.

Former seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Basil Marcus was on hand to supervise the work of Jay Peg, a horse he applied the polish to first before handing over to Herman Brown, who went on to add the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free in his trophy cabinet last March.

“Winning the Dubai Duty Free was awesome. The horse seems to have settled very well here and while there is always a bit of pressure for such big races, we’re confident enough,” said Marcus.

Mourilyan just went for a slower canter up the Polytrack, giving every indication he is also primed to fire.

“They’re both in good order. They’ll have another light work tomorrow just to top them off ahead of Sunday,” said Brown.

Japan’s Cosmo Bulk and New Zealand’s Sir Slick with race-jockey Bruce Herd aboard just went for a casual spin of canter around the fibresand and grass respectively.

Sir Slick’s trainer Graeme Nicholson said the gelding would have a gallop on Saturday.

“Everything’s progressing well,” said Nicholson.

Local gallopers were again restricted to an easy day of canter after most of them had their Wednesday main hit-out under the belt.

Chevron, who drew well in barrier 6, went a little quicker under apprentice Martin Koh, sprinting home in 42.3 seconds, shaping up nicely for the premier race.
(Source: Singapore Turf Club)