ONG TO BOUNCE BACK FROM BLIP

Champion trainer counts on another big team to get over forgettable Kranji Mile day

- Michael Lee

A day at Kranji without Jason Ong winning a race is like Manchester City goal poacher Erling Haaland not hitting the back of the net at least once a match.

Unfortunately, even the best slip up once in a while, as Ong found out at his expense on May 18. The powerful yard misfired despite sending out yet another formidable strike force.

The best result the reigning Singapore champion trainer could muster was one second and four thirds from his squad of 19 horses, half of them leading chances.

In 20 meetings put astern in 2024, Ong has had only two blank days the opening day on Jan 6 and two weeks later on Jan 20.

A heady run over 16 weeks has now been halted by a third duck's egg.

No doubt it is just a blip, but to the young trainer, who turned 36 one week earlier on May 11, it still rankles.

Of all the meetings on the Singapore racing calendar, that rare offday had to come up at one of its most prestigious - Kranji Mile day.

He did not field a runner in the $1 million Group 1 race itself, but October ran unplaced in the sister race, the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1,600m).