BURRIDGE SQUAD ON POINT

Kranji Mile trio Street Of Dreams, Invincible Tycoon, Cavalry ready, Ghalib on undercard

- Michael Lee

A gun barrier trial run holding his own against leading Kranji Mile contenders had a few wondering if Ghalib was only a "just-in-case" entry to the $1 million race on May 18.

On May 9, he beat the likes of Lim's Kosciuszko, Golden Monkey and even stablemate Street Of Dreams in trial No. 2.

However, trainer Steven Burridge confirmed that the win had not swayed him. The prolific son of I Am Invincible was all along entered to make the numbers, and remained out of the former invitational race.

The six-time winner would instead run on the undercard, even if it meant vying for purse one-tenth of the Kranji Mile's.

"Ghalib will run in the Class 1 race over 1,200m," said the Australian handler.

"He had a good blowout, as did Street Of Dreams. Invincible Tycoon was in the next trial won by that good thing of David Kok's (Pacific Vampire).

"We were not out to beat him, just holding up behind. We ended up running two seconds slower, which is fine.

"My horses have done everything right and are pretty fit." Burridge's only Kranji Mile runner who was put through light work instead on that day was Cavalry. He just won his last start on May 4.