News

Eclair Fastpass ticking over nicely

6th Jan 2011

Singapore Turf Club - Craig Brennan - Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Lightly-raced four-year-old Eclair Fastpass has been given a long and steady build-up for his return to racing.

Trainer Desmond Koh sent the former Australian sprinter on another step towards that comeback with a pleasing second placing in a 1000m barrier trial on Tuesday.

It was the second trial by Eclair Fastpass as he prepares for a return to the racetrack later this month or early in February.

The son of Fastnet Rock hasn’t raced since defeating Gingerbread Man over 1200m on July 11, his third successive victory in four starts in Singapore.

Ridden by regular jockey Danny Beasley, Eclair Fastpass finished second to the race-fit sprinter Dr Lemon in the 1000m trial, beaten a length-and-a-quarter in 1 min 00.16 secs.

Eclair Fastpass had his first trial back from a break on December 23, finishing third behind Golden Number and Lamborghini Flame, and Koh plans to give the four-year-old another trial before he makes his return to racing.

“He’s still pretty fat and I think he’s still one trial away from being ready to run,” said Koh.

“I’m happy with where he is at and he is coming along well. He can have another trial in a couple of week’s time and then hopefully he’ll be ready for a race towards the end of this month or early next month.

“Danny was happy with his trial and he knows the horse very well.”

The only time Eclair Fastpass has suffered a defeat in Singapore was at his debut when a fading sixth behind Chilli over 1200m on the Polytrack – his only start on that surface.

Koh said there were a number of factors that contributed to the gelding’s downfall on that occasion.

“I think he wasn’t quite fit enough,” said Koh. “He is a gross sort of horse and while I thought he was fit enough at the end he probably wasn’t.

“But he also fly-jumped at the start and then went forward, pulling quite hard, and I think that also contributed to his defeat first-up.

“He also hadn’t raced for some time since coming up from Melbourne and may have also been a bit rusty.”

Koh said he would be guided by how Eclair Fastpass performed at his first start back from a break but has all but ruled out taking the gelding to Dubai to tackle the Group 2 US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint over 1000m at Meydan on March 26 – Dubai World Cup night.

That event had been in the back of Koh’s thoughts, but on learning that last month’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint winner J J The Jetplane was targeting the same race, he has had a change of mind.

“I had been having thoughts of taking the horse to Dubai, but I think we will stay here now and race on our home track,” said Koh.

“Especially now that I have learned that J J The Jetplane is going to run in that race. He beat Rocket Man fair and square in Hong Kong and we know how good he is.”

Beasley enjoyed being reacquainted with Eclair Fastpass in Tuesday’s trial – the first time he has been back on the gelding following his Christmas break.

“I had been doing all the work on him before I went home to Sydney for Christmas,” said Beasley.

“I only got back here on Saturday and this is the first time I’ve sat on his back.

“He’s in the condition that I thought he would be in and I couldn’t be happier with how he is coming along.

“He’s a big gross sort of horse, so giving him the three trials is certainly a good move on Des’ part and going on his trial today I think he definitely needs the third one.”

After a frustrating opening day to the new season last Sunday in which he rode three second placegetters, Beasley is looking forward to riding Better Be The One in the $125,000 Open Handicap over 1200m on Friday night.

After scoring two impressive wins on the Polytrack, Better Be The One makes his turf track debut in Singapore on Friday night.

Beasley was aboard the gelding when successful on debut in Singapore but was forced to miss his latest success when sidelined through suspension.

Although just back from holiday, Beasley expects to ride the gelding at 51kg, just 1kg over his allotted 50kg handicap.

“The weather was excellent in Sydney during my break and it was quite easy to get up of a morning and go for a run,” he said.

“I rode comfortably at 52kg when I returned on the weekend so I should be able to get down to 51kg without too many problems.

“The inspiration is there and when you’ve got a horse like him it certainly makes the job a lot easier.”

Beasley said he hopes Koh and Michael Freedman, the trainer of Better Be The One, can keep the two gallopers separated as they race on during the year.

“I suppose it will be a bit of a tough decision if they ever do meet and I’ll cross that bridge when the time arises,” said Beasley.

“In the near future I think they will be going on different paths, but I suppose at some stage they will meet up.”

The pair has raced each other once back in Melbourne in August 2009. Eclair Fastpass finishing second to Starspanglebanner in the Listed Vain Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield with Better Be The One (which raced then as Common Interest) finishing in fifth spot.

Photo by Singapore Turf Club - www.turfclub.com.sg