The biblically-named Last Supper makes his race debut at Kranji on Sunday in the SG$75,000 Restricted Maiden Division 1 race over 1200m and on trial form, a miracle will not be required to win.
The three-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Grunt impressed at his first trial on July 25 after he won in the solid time of 1 min 1.26secs, before he backed that up by another winning trial on August 10 in 1 min 0.89secs.
Ridden by four-time champion jockey Vlad Duric in both trials, Last Supper showed versatility after he worked home strongly from the rear at his first trial but dictated terms by leading from barrier to post at the second trial.
Those eye-catching runs leading up to his debut were faultless and James Peters – who trains and owns Last Supper – thought that he should put on a forward showing on Sunday, regardless of the barrier he jumps from.
“I will leave tactics to Vlad,” said the London-born conditioner, who will also saddle Spieth Heroine in the same race.
“But you don’t want to get back in these maiden races with so many inexperienced horses to contend with, so we will endeavour to race in the first quarter of the field to keep out of trouble.
“He showed he can race on the pace at his second trial, but I think his best pattern would be following other horses and running them down.
“The best scenario would be to draw a nice gate on Wednesday and Vlad can box-seat him.
“His trials were good and his trackwork has always been good. Let’s hope he runs well on debut.”
When Peters first saw him at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, he thought that he was buying into a horse that could get over more ground in future.
“When we first looked at him (Last Supper), I thought he was a ‘scopey’ type that would need some filling out,” he said.
“I had him pegged as a miler later in his three-year-old season, so to be showing so much this early is very encouraging.
“In saying that, his trackwork since he arrived in Singapore had been good. When we started galloping him, I knew he had ability. I asked Vlad to sit on him and he (Duric) liked him immediately.
“I never ask my horses to do much at their first trial, so to watch him finish off the way he did for Vlad was very promising. That experience then brought him on at his second trial.”
Duric agreed with Peters and is excited to see if Last Supper can bring his good work in the mornings to the races on Sunday.
“I really like him,” said Duric, fresh off a double last weekend with Gold Governor in the Open Maiden race over 1400m and Thunder in the Class 5 race over the mile.
“Out of all the juveniles I’ve ridden recently, he’s (Last Supper) the one I liked the most.
“He likes to have a look around at work – I like that in a horse – and he’s got a great presence about him.
“And I think he will definitely get further, so to be sharp enough to be a chance on debut over six furlongs is impressive.
“Great for James to have a nice one on his hands.”
Peters has another debutant on Sunday – Flying Success in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden Division 2 race over 1200m – and thought that the three-year-old son of Headwater also has something to offer.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he (Flying Success) runs well,” continued Peters.
“He’s obviously not jumping off the page like Last Supper on trial form, but I thought his last trial (finished fourth to Ben’s Champion in trial no 1 on August 10) was solid.
“(Jockey) Benny (Woodworth) rode him in that trial and will ride him on Sunday. I think he (Flying Success) probably needs the race experience, but he’s a nice enough horse.
“Whatever he does, he will improve from the run.”
- The Kranji meeting starts at 06h00.
