Super Salute set for Merlion roar

It seems like ages ago – too long, most certainly – that we watched him trot into the winner’s circle to be surrounded by his proud connections.

Then again, perhaps, it comes with the territory.

In recent times, we have begun to expect too much from Super Salute.

Indeed, Super Salute’s last victory was not that long ago.

It was as recent as four months ago – on June 11 – that he lifted the Group 3 Silver Bowl while under the tutelage of Jason Lim.

Alas, it was the end of a magic carpet ride for the horse and his regular rider, Manoel Nunes, who was on board in six of those seven straight victories, including the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1,400m).

Well, after five winless outings – but placed in four of them – Super Salute appears to be back at his best. He is raring to go again.

On the form he showed during training on Tuesday morning, he could have Saturday’s Group 3 Merlion Trophy race at his mercy.

Super Salute was not out to break any speed records, with Nunes keeping him well in check to cover the 600m in 40.5sec.

If anything, it was a positive piece of work, looking all fired up for that “homecoming” to the winner’s circle.

Also positive were his last two outings. Both times, the five-year-old, who is now with trainer Richard Lim, found one to beat. Both times, he had excuses.

When second to Pacific Emperor on Sept 23, he was slow into stride and, on Oct 14, when beaten by Dream Alliance, he began awkwardly and lost ground.

Well, if those problems have been ironed out, Super Salute could be the one seeing his rivals home in Saturday’s feature.

Also vying for honours in the $110,000 race over the Polytrack 1,200m will be Surpass Natural, Kharisma and General Command.

All three showed up and showed off on the training track and their trainers must be commended for having them in such fine condition.

General Command, a stablemate of Super Salute, had Koh Teck Huat in the saddle when he covered the 600m in 38.5.

Surpass Natural, ridden by Louis-Philippe Beuzelin, went a tad faster, clocking 37.6. Kharisma was the meat in the sandwich. He ran out the trip in 37.9.

An “old timer” at eight years old, Surpass Natural is still a force to be reckoned with.

Winless since Jan 13, 2021, when taking out a Kranji Stakes A race over the 1,200m, Surpass Natural’s last-start third to Sacred Gift on Oct 7 was a good effort.

Over 1,200m on the same alternate surface as the Merlion, the Mahadi Taib-trained runner will be in it for a long way.

The same could be said for Kharisma. He, too, is getting long in the tooth but, even at seven, he can still raise a fine gallop.

It was on Aug 6 that he posted his latest win, taking out the Group 2 Rocket Man Sprint (1,200m) under Shafrizal Saleh.

Last time, on Oct 14, he ran a bold race. He held on to third spot from go to whoa in that 1,400m sprint which was taken out by Dream Alliance.

A winner of 11 races for Stephen Gray, who owns and trains the horse, Kharisma is far from ready to be put out to pasture and he will have a say in Saturday’s proceedings.

One who is on the up and up is five-year-old General Command.

Another one previously prepared by Jason Lim but now with Richard Lim, General Command has had a stellar season.

Beginning with a winning debut on Jan 14, he went on to win four more races, that last one coming on Aug 13.

His form then took a dive and his last three runs were nothing to shout about.

However, he is now in good shape and, if he is among the leading bunch when the field straightens for the run home on Saturday, he could be looking at a sixth success.

brian@sph.com.sg