Last-start winner Ravalli came out for a smart tune-up at the Kranji barrier trials on July 4, giving every indication he can go back-to-back at his next assignment on July 13. Ridden by Ryan Curatolo, who was aboard at his second-up win in a Class 4 race (1,200m) on June 16, the Ilovethiscity three-year-old ran a neck-second to Super Bowl (Jerlyn Seow). Taking nothing away from Super Bowl, whose forte is more middle-distance races, but it was clear that had Curatolo wanted to dig his mount up inside the last 200m, the finishing order might have been interchanged.
Even if the French jockey was sitting pretty in the saddle, Ravalli effortlessly pulled his way to Super Bowl’s girth, almost like he was in auto-pilot mode. Curatolo confirmed he rode the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained galloper in almost identical fashion to his win, except that victory was not necessary in a trial. “I rode him the same way – sit for as long as I could,” he said.
“Tim told me not to get him to do a lot today, but at the same time, he had to put in some work. “It’s been three weeks since his last run, and he’s set to race next week in the Class 4 over 1,200m. “The thing about this horse is that he doesn’t pull at all.
He was very relaxed, I had a lot in hand, and yet I didn’t have to do a lot. “He just followed the leader on the bridle and then quickened up. It was a very good trial.
” With the end of Singapore racing (Oct 5) nearing, Fitzsimmons and the owners, the Jig Racing/Lega.
