Spring Carnival Looms for Super One

Super One (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) cemented his status as Singapore's leading juvenile, remaining undefeated with a dominating front-running victory in Sunday's 1200-meter Juvenile Championship at Kranji Racecourse, and could now set his sights on the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Australian springtime.

Consigned to the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Broadwater Thoroughbreds, Super One was an A$190,000 purchase by Michael Wallace and trainer Michael Freedman on behalf of Super Team Stable after the team were the immediate underbidder on future G1 Golden Slipper S. hero Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). The son of Tails Wins (Aus) (Tale of the Cat) had never been off at odds longer than 2-5 in his three previous races and was entering the Juvenile Championship off a five-length demolition of the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe May 15.

Jockey Craig Newitt, who had partnered with the colt in his first three starts, recently left Singapore to return to Australia and Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Corey Brown was at the controls for the first time Sunday. He bounced the prohibitive 1-5 chalk away from his high draw and found his way to the front going very easily prior to the turn. Never really out of second gear, he put a few lengths on his battling rivals in upper stretch beneath a motionless Brown and galloped home a five-length winner, with plenty more in the tank (video). The rider was quick to praise the colt.

“I've ridden a lot of champion horses, and Exceed And Excel (Aus) was right up there with the best,” said Brown, who won the 2009 Cup aboard Shocking (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). “I've ridden this fellow [Super One] only in a barrier trial and a couple of gallops before today, but he sure gives me the same feeling. I barely gave him a squeeze and he won by panels. I'm not saying he would be better if he had a target in front of him, but I would like to see him take a sit one day.”

While Freedman stopped short of confirming Super One for the trip across to Australia for the 1200-meter G1 Coolmore Stud S. up the Flemington straight Oct. 31, it's clear he's done his homework.

“I'll have to see how he pulls up first and then look at the programme and the quarantine procedures. If we go down, he has to leave by the 26th of September,” said the Australian trainer, who has just returned from his Greek holidays. “The first thing I asked Corey after he jumped off was what he reckoned about his chances in Australia, and he told me he would be the right horse to take there. If we go, my gut feel is he will not run here before he flies out. He may get a barrier trial or a lead-up run there, I'll see. It would be exciting for the owner and myself to have a horse to represent Singapore at the Spring Carnival.”