Champion trainer gets chronic bleeder back on track at trials

Kranji waited with bated breath in the wake of Cavalry's smashing winning debut for trainer Michael Clements in July 2023.

Such was the buoyancy in the Thai-owned King Power camp, after such a rousing display, that the former Taupo Cup winner (when known as Tutukaka in New Zealand) backed up within a fortnight in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1,800m).

He did not win but was brave in defeat when second to Golden Monkey.

Two years on, the bubble has clearly burst.

The buzz of anticipation of his early days has now turned into a waiting game for a racing career that had promised so much, but yet underdelivered.

New handler Jason Ong's patience has often been tested in the short time he took over the Tavistock seven-year-old from Steven Burridge at the end of 2024.

In three starts for the two-time Singapore champion trainer in Malaysia, Cavalry has had two seconds and one third – on paper, decent performances.

But the well-documented respiratory issues that have long stunted Cavalry's racing career were still lurking.

He first bled at his third and final start for Clements. It was still touch-and-go under Burridge even if he eked out one more win.

To Ong's dismay, Cavalry  relapsed after his last-start third to Antipodean in the Trinity Cup (1,400m) at Kuala Lumpur on Aug 31, albeit it was not as full-blown.

It was a bittersweet result for Ong.

On face value, the Singaporean felt let down by the run, but it was then mitigated by the respiratory setback. Though minor, it still derailed Ong's plans for the gelding now raced by Team Cheval.

The stewards' two-week embargo ruled him out of the Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) won by Lucky Magic on Sept 14.

It was back to the drawing board, starting with a mandatory barrier trial test on Sept 23, which Cavalry, however, duly passed with a narrow but yet impressive win.

The old flash of brilliance was unmistakable when he was angled to the outside from his rearward spot by Joe Kamaruddin.

The former New Zealand-based apprentice eased up close home, with his mount still taking the trial by the slenderest of margins from Pacific Sky (Bahauddin Sharudin).

"I didn't want him to overdo things. The main purpose was to pass the trial today," said Ong.

"To be honest, I was disappointed with his last-start third. I thought he could run a lot better, either win or at least run second.

"No doubt he was beaten by a good horse in Antipodean , but vets later scoped him and found traces of blood.

"It was frustrating as the embargo meant he couldn't run in the Selangor Gold Cup.

"Anyway, we gave him some time to get over it and he sharpened up very nicely in his trial today."

Ong said the passed trial was only half the battle won.

"As he's highly rated (87), the right races do not come often for him," he said.

"I haven't seen a race yet for him. For now, I just want to make sure he's 100 per cent.

"He was a promising horse when he first came to Singapore, but he's also a horse with issues, a bad bleeder. I hope he can win again."

That last wish could also echo his state of mind at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur meeting on Sept 28.

The runaway premiership leader – 76 wins versus defending champion Simon Dunderdale's 48 – endured a rare winless day at the same venue on Sept 21.

With 19 runners across 12 races on Sept 28, Ong hopes the blip was only momentary, even if his two stalwarts have drawn wide, Pacific Vampire (10) and Filial Dragon (9) in the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale Cup (1,020m).

"They didn't get ideal draws. We'll see how the pace pans out," said Ong.

"I was disappointed with Pacific Vampire 's fifth (1,200m) last time, but 1,020m is his distance."