The Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) comes to Singapore for the running of the Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m this Sunday.
With previous legs of the ten race series having been run in Australia, Japan and Dubai, the KrisFlyer is the fourth Leg of the 2013 series which carries a US$1 million bonus if a horse can win in three different countries and which can include its country of origin.
Inaugurated in 2005, the GSC brings together the world’s best sprinters from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Ato (Barend Vorster) on his way to victory in last year’s KrisFlyer International Sprint.
A win in a leg of the GSC puts the names of the winning horse, trainer and jockey up in lights and provides the ultimate international recognition of the winning nation’s sprinting stock.
The KrisFlyer joined the GSC in 2011 with Champion Singapore sprinter Rocket Man claiming top honours while stablemate Ato made it back-to-back victories for trainer Pat Shaw by taking out the 2012 edition.
The KrisFlyer has this year brought together a star-studded line-up with representation from Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Russia and South Africa along with five local gallopers making up the 11 horse field.
Bel Sprinter, prepared in Melbourne by Jason Warren, claimed his first Group 1 win in The Galaxy at Rosehill in March before finishing third behind Black Caviar in the Group 1 T.J. Smith at Randwick on April 13.
Much travelled Lucky Nine has been one of Hong Kong’s leading sprinters over the years and claimed the final Leg of the 2011 GSC when taking the Hong Kong Sprint. He’s ventured overseas four times previously, enjoying little luck, on three visits to Japan and one to Dubai.
Irish galloper Balmont Mast headed to Dubai for the carnival earlier this year and responded with a game second in the third Leg of the GSC, the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over 1200m on March 30.
Dasher Go Go comes into the KrisFlyer in good form having finished fifth to leading Japanese sprinter Lord Kanaloa in the second Leg of the series, the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over 1200m on March 24.
Dux Scholar is another well-travelled sprinter having raced in Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Slovak Republic and United Arab Emirates. He had a good Dubai carnival before finishing a last start seventh in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on March 30.
South Africa’s Mike De Kock is no stranger to winning the big races around the world and will be represented by Kavanagh. A high class sprinter in his native South Africa, Kavanagh gradually worked his way into form before finishing a last start sixth behind Reynaldothewizard in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
The local contingent is spearheaded by Michael Freedman’s duo of Super Easy and Mr Big. Super Easy won 12 races on end after his arrival from New Zealand following his two-year-old season and returned to winning form with victory in the Group 1 Lion City Cup on April 28, a race Rocket Man won on four consecutive occasions from 2009 to 2012.
Mr Big, who has finished in the top three at all of his 20 domestic starts, finished second to Ato in this race last year. He was beaten out of a place for the first time when fifth behind Shea Shea in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan before his last start second to Super Easy in the Lion City Cup.
Goal Keeper, prepared by Theo Kieser, is blessed with plenty of pace and will be lining for his first start since January, but has been working and trialling well while the John O’Hara-trained Emerald Hill won his first five career starts and made his turf track debut when fifth in the Group 3 Kranji Sprint over 1200m in April.
Speedy Cat rounds out the field. A consistent sprinter in Singapore, the gelding won the Group 3 Merlion Trophy in March providing trainer Alvin Tan with his first ‘Group’ race before finishing a last start third to Super Easy and Mr Big, in the Lion City Cup.
