Kranji’s top runner in action
Countofmontecristo gets his first run under Walker
– Countofmontecristo , the highest rated horse in the city-state of Singapore, steps on to the track tomorrow for the first time under his new trainer Mark Walker. The three-time Singapore champion trainer only received the former Michael Clements-trained galloper last Friday, but he has not let the grass grow under his feet, entering his new charge in tomorrow’s $100,000 (R1.2-million) Class 1 race over 1600m. Countofmontecristo is rated at 115 points. He last ran in the Group 1 Kranji Mile on August 16, finishing third to Aramaayo after being caught three wide for most of the trip. His new handler cannot fault his condition going into Saturday’s race, but is wary of the energy-sapping race he had in the Kranji Mile. “He’s come from Mike in fantastic condition. It’s a short turnaround for a first start, but he’s come to us in wonderful order,” said the Kiwi trainer. “He seems happy and seems well, but I’m just a bit concerned by the hard run he had in the Kranji Mile. He certainly had a hell of a tough run, he had no favours racing three wide with no cover before he hit the front at the top of the straight. “At the back of your mind, you’d think he might be backing up a bit quickly, but we won’t know until he runs.” Countofmontecristo could be a Singapore Triple Crown contender tis season. The series is made up of the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m), Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) and Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) and the seven-year-old son of Echoes Of Heaven could just pull it off. -