BREAK FROM RACING HAS KASSAB KEEN TO GO AGAIN

Trainer Cheng Han Yong's Thunder Hero, Master Baby leave rivals stranded in trials

- Brian Miller

If you are into numbers, you might like to know that it has been almost six months since Kassab has been to the races or, for that matter, the trials.

His last outing - until showing up at the trials on Nov 19 - was on May 26. And, it was inauspicious.

That day, in a Class 3 race over the 1,275m trip at Sungai Besi, Kassab finished seventh in a field of 10.

There was good enough reason for trainer Abdullah Aboo Bakker to decide that his charge needed a rest.

And so it was, for the next six months, Kassab was off the scene only to return on Nov 19.

The long break must have done the Exceed And Excel seven-yearold a world of good because he seemed itching to go and he certainly made his presence felt at the trials lumping from Gate No. 5 in that field of eight, he was neatly into his stride and, when the runners made that first sweeping left turn, Kassab (Uzair Sharudin) was comfortably in the slipstream of Osome (Andre da Silva).

Into the straight and with 300m to travel, he made his move. Rapidly gaining on the leader, he hit the front 100m out and went to the line on a short rein, clocking 1min 1.66sec for the 1,000m.

Racing fans in Singapore will remember Kassab from the days when he was under the care of trainer Michael Clements.