Classy three-year-old Noble Manor rounded off his preparation for Friday
night’s Group 3 $200,000 Singapore Guineas over 1600m with an emphatic trial
victory at Kranji on Tuesday morning.
Given a solid hitout by race jockey Saimee Jumaat, Noble Manor defeated the
handy Queen’s Avenue by six lengths, running a slick 59.73 seconds over the
1000m course.
The time was just 0.53 seconds outside the best 1000m time recorded on the
Polytrack under race conditions.
Trainer Laurie Laxon was naturally delighted with Noble Manor’s impressive
workout in which he looked to be in second gear throughout.
Noble Manor can be quite “hot-headed” but is gradually showing
improvement in both his work and race day manners.
“That should settle him down quite nicely,” said Laxon. “He’s been a
little too fresh.”
Noble Manor was able to take a sit early in the trial and Saimee reported the
son of Stravinsky settled well behind the leader.
“He settled well and was nice and relaxed,” Saimee told Laxon. “When I
asked him to go he sprinted quickly. It was good work.”
Noble Manor (Saimee Jumaat) holds off a determined Restored to win over 1600m
on January 23. The pair again combine over the journey in the Group 3 Singapore
Guineas on Friday night.
Laxon revealed that he had paired Noble Manor with a regular rider for slow
work and it was only when the gelding requires a more searching hitout that he
calls upon Saimee.
“One of my track riders has been riding him in his slow work each morning
and they are getting on pretty well,” said Laxon.
“He’s getting him to relax in his work and that is now starting to come
through on race day.”
Laxon said Noble Manor was a gross doer who requires constant watching so as
he doesn’t get too fat.
Before running a close second to the very smart Dragon World at his last
start, Noble Manor weighed in at 516kg, a rise of 7kg over his winning weight
from three weeks earlier.
“He’s always squealing for more food,” said Laxon. “I have to be
careful with how much I feed him. I don’t want him getting too fat on the
inside.
“He needs a trial like he had today more than a hard gallop. Being such a
gross doer it’s more beneficial for him.
“It gets him to work just a little bit harder and hopefully that will also
help him to settle down a bit more.”
Noble Manor is rated the second best three-year-old racing in Singapore. His
rating of 71 puts him 19 points behind Rocket Man but ahead of Powerful Ruler
and Revolt.
Noble Manor has had the three starts since arriving in Singapore. Having won
his first two starts, the gelding was just touched out by Dragon World over
1400m last time out.
Two starts ago, over Friday night’s 1600m journey, Noble Manor accounted
for MRA Cup winner Restored after refusing to settle early in the race.
Noble Manor has won almost $90,000 in his three starts for the Silver Fern
Racing Stable.-STC
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