Leck’s newcomer Tycoon Boss struts his stuff at Sungai Besi

Trainer Charles Leck has got a promising newcomer in his yard, and racegoers at Sungai Besi had their first glimpse of the four-year-old galloper when Leck sent him out for his first starting stall trial in Malaysia on Nov 4.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Bahauddin Sharudin, and jumping from barrier 2 in the six-horse affair, Tycoon Boss was in a mean mood.

He took the lead upon settling and, showing good early speed, the son of Street Boss quickly opened up a three-length break from two other newcomers, Man Man Lai and Hayate.

Keeping up a relentless gallop and giving Bahauddin a sedan-chair ride, Tycoon Boss was five lengths clear on straightening.

Man Man Lai (Joe Kamaruddin) tried to close the gap, and came within a length at the furlong mark.

But, on seeing his shadow loom to his left, Tycoon Boss dug deep, found more speed and eventually drew away to win by two clear lengths.

The four-year-old gelding meant business. He clocked a smart time of 59.69sec for the 1,000m trip on the turf.

Before Tycoon Boss came under the care of his Singaporean trainer in Kuala Lumpur, he already knows the business of racing.

The Australian-bred plied his trade in New Zealand previously, where he posted one win and three placings from six starts when trained by ex-Kranji trainer Stephen Gray and his father, Kevin.

Interestingly, he was ridden by 2024 Singapore champion jockey Bruno Queiroz when he opened his account in the Doctor Askar Maiden race (1,000m) at Trentham, Wellington on May 10, handing the Brazilian hoop his first career victory in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Tycoon Boss won easily by 4¼ lengths and clocked a slick time of 58.33sec.

That was also his last race in New Zealand. But on the strength of his first win at the trials, he should run a big race on his Malaysian debut.

The second-placed Man Man Lai is another newcomer to Malaysia, but he has had more race experiences under his belt.

Formerly known as Street Of Dreams and trained by Steven Burridge, the son of Dundeel became the darling of the Kranji racing fraternity when he pulled off six wins in a row from Oct 2, 2022 until March 4, 2023.

After he finished unplaced in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1,600m) in May 2024, Man Man Lai was sent over to race in Victoria, but the Joe Giovanni Singh-owned gelding was unplaced in three starts at Flemington, Caulfield and Bendigo.

Now a seven-year-old and under Jason Ong’s care, he looks to want to pick up from his Kranji days.

Man Man Lai’s showing at the trials indicated that the fire still burns. Watch for him when Ong sends him to the races.

The second trial of the morning served to showcase yet another newcomer to Malaysian racing.

Battle Cry won his hit-out with some authority, clocking 59.95sec for his sprint over the 1,000m on grass.

Trained by Jason Lim, the Hellbent four-year-old showed warrior qualities under Mohd Zaki, leading from barrier rise and starving off a late challenge from Koondakaara (Kamaruddin) to win by ½ length.

Land Lover (Aify Yahaya), who was also having a starting stall test, dropped in to take third spot. But he was adrift by 8½ lengths.

Battle Cry looks a good sort, so watch out for him when he makes his debut in the Max 2 race (1,300m) at Sungai Besi on Nov 8.

The runner-up Koondakaara is another one prepared by Ong and is also owned by Singh.

The four-year-old gelding came over from Australia after five runs, in which he recorded three seconds and two fourths.

Those three seconds were over sprint distances of 1,200 and 1,400m.

Kranji racegoers will remember his sire, Gingerbread Man. While under the care of trainer Bruce Marsh, the precocious galloper won 11 races from 30 starts.

Ong will be hoping that Koondakaara has inherited some of those genes and punters will know his worth upon his debut.

brian@sph.com.sg