The Steven Burridge-trained Makin continued his stellar run of form after he took out the SG$85,000 Class 2 race on Saturday at Kranji.
Given the dominant win, the son of Written Tycoon can be a major player in the upcoming Group races for four-year-olds, starting with the Gr3 Silver Bowl on 9 June.
Makin (Manoel Nunes) gains the verdict in the Class 2 race (Pic -STC)
Sent out as the SG$11 favourite, Makin (Manoel Nunes) jumped well from barrier six before settling in the first three, albeit around eight lengths behind the tearaway leader, Fame Star (Jerlyn Seow).
Meanwhile, Dream Alliance (Bruno Queiroz) found himself back with no cover from his wide barrier nine.
Fame Star kept the good clip going around the bend while Mr Black Back (Faiz Khair) sat in second and Nunes had the perfect trail behind the Richard Lim-trained gelding.
Makin looked to be cruising after Nunes nursed him into a winning position on the flank of the first two at the 300m before getting busy at the furlong post to put the race beyond doubt.
Dream Alliance failed to make any inroads and eventually ran ninth, which was disappointing but Mr Black Back held on well for second place, one-and-three-quarter-lengths behind the winner.
Raising Sixty-One (Amirul Ismadi) and Cavalry (Jaden Lloyd) both ran on well in third and fourth by a neck and short head respectively.
The winning time was 1 min 33.84secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
Burridge was extremely happy to see his rising star win again but there was a glint in the experienced Australian conditioner’s eyes with the 1800m of the Gr1 Singapore Derby more than mentioned in dispatches.
“Makin has a good chance of getting the Derby distance on that run,” said Burridge, who also won the SG$50,000 Class 5 race with Jungle Cruise two races earlier.
“They went mad in front and that helped us for sure. The second horse, Mr Black Back, did all the donkey work. We chimed in at the right time.
“I was happy with Cavalry’s run too. First-up over the mile was tough and he probably felt it late. It was still a nice run going forward.
“But that was a great win by Makin. The way he can sit on the pace and hit the line like he did, the Derby trip should be up his alley.
“He’s done a really good job. I think I’ve had him for 10 runs now (previously in the care of ex-Kranji trainer Michael Clements) and he’s won four and ran second another four times; not bad really.
“I think the fact he copped a bit of work and is a good eater helped in this (Singapore) environment. He will get a break now.
“At this stage, we will give him a freshen-up before the Silver Bowl and see how we go into the Gr2 Stewards’ Cup and the Gr1 Singapore Derby.
The Silver Bowl will be followed by the Stewards’ Cup on 30 June while the Singapore Derby will be held on 21 July.
Oddly, Nunes only recently gave Makin any hope of running out the Derby distance after pegging him as a seven-furlong type three starts ago.
“Honestly, I thought 1400m would be the limit for Makin,” said the five-time Singapore champion jockey.
“I didn’t think he would get the trip when jockey Ryan Curatolo rode him and he won in the Class 3 race over the mile (on 9 March).
“I was already committed to another horse, Black Storm in that race but Makin impressed me. He has improved a lot.
“When I rode him at work the last two weeks with earmuffs on, I was amazed with how well he settled. He will get the Derby trip.
“We got some favours today. The pace suited and he won very well. I’m very happy for owner Mansoor Gandhi of the Al-Arabiya Stable and Steve too. They have some nice horses together.”
Makin’s fourth win and four placings from 13 starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over $190,000 for the Al-Arabiya Stable.
