Ong's Mega Blaze sets trials on fire
Good for the young Singaporean handler and his team, whose hard work is paying off.
Yet, it would seem they are bent on keeping the winning momentum going as Ong showcased another good one at the trials, which were run off on the morning of June 24.
A three-year-old son by Encryption, Mega Blaze has yet to face the starter, but he was a busy boy at the trials.
To date, he has had four such hit-outs going back to March 25.
The first three were average runs. One could tell he was finding his feet and getting accustomed to his new surroundings in Malaysia.
However, that last one on Tuesday morning would have made his doubters sit up and take notice.
Mega Blaze was in his element.
Handled by Andre da Silva and having a starting stall test in the first trial, he jumped from the innermost gate and settled into the slipstream of Pacific Hero, who had Laercio de Souza in the saddle.
After eyeballing Pacific Hero, Mega Blaze made his move 300m from home and eventually broke clear to win by ½ length.
Silver Dragon (Akmazani Mazuki) was doing his best work late and finished with a flourish to take third - ½ length behind Pacific Hero.
Mega Blaze worked home in a smart time of 1min 0.15sec.
Owned by the Legacy Power Racing Stable, he might not have made his Malaysian debut yet, but he is not clueless in this business.
Until coming over from Australia, Mega Blaze was known as Golden Racer and he plied his trade in and around Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.
Then under the care of jockey-turned-trainer Danny Beasley - who rode in Singapore for 15 years and was known for his successful combination on Ong's classy War Affair - he had five starts and finished third on two occasions.
Now, winning this latest trial does seem to suggest that the tutoring is about over, so watch out when Ong sends his youngster to the races. Mega Blaze could be off to a winning debut.
From the same trial, keep an eye on another runner from his yard, Silver Dragon.
The Time Test four-year-old ran third, but he made heaps of ground over the final furlong and that run was full of merit.
A four-time winner from 19 starts in Singapore, he came over to Sungai Besi after an unplaced run at Kranji's final meeting on Oct 5, 2024, and has since finished third in two trials.
Mark him down as a horse to follow.
If the first trial was a fight to the finish, the second trial of the morning belonged to just one runner - Spicy Babe.
A pacey mare from Lawson Moy's yard, Spicy Babe - previously known as Lim's Jinba in Singapore - has been winless in eight starts, albeit she did place twice at Kranji and finished second in her first race in Malaysia on Feb 9.
At her latest trial on June 24, the Jukebox mare was untouchable over the concluding stages and took the chocolates by a healthy three lengths.
She clocked an admirable time of 1:00.52 for the 1,000m. Moongate Hero (de Souza), the early leader, took second with Legend Sixty-Three (John Sundradas) having to settle for third.
Now a four-year-old, Spicy Babe had her last start on March 23. It was a non-event and in pouring rain, she plodded home to finish fifth to The Wild Goal.
Since that last run - where she was found to be lame off-hind - and the trial on June 24, she has had a 93-day break.
Judging from her show at the trials, the break must have done her some good.
Hopefully, she will be able to bring that form to the races.
brian@sph.com.sg
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