FRIGHT THROWN IN AT THE DEEP END IN POOLS RACE

Big leap in class does not scare Dunderdale’s rising star in Singapore Pools Trophy in Ipoh

- Michael Lee

The Singapore Pools Trophy may be the supporting act to the Group1 Coronation Cup (1,600m) on Nov 16, but to reigning Malaysian cham-

pion trainer Simon Dunderdale, it is anything but a consolation cup.

The Kuala Lumpur-based New Zealander would have actually loved to revisit Ipoh’s mile feature to keep a good run going. He joined the honour roll in 2023 with Good Fight, and nearly went back-to-back if not for an inform Mega Gems raining down on his parade last year.

Stable star Antipodean could have been a shoo-in for this year’s renewal, but Dunderdale decided to think out of the square.

“I’m trying something different with Antipodean. He’s never been tried beyond the mile,” he said.

“Instead of trucking up to Ipoh, we'll give him a letup and set him for the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (Dec 7) - there’s no reason why he can’t get 2,000m.”

Dunderdale may have eschewed the Coronation Cup path this time round, but another race on the undercard appealed.