Fine Choice feeling Fine

Fine Choice will be looking to go one better in this Friday's $$90,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale Stakes race (1200m), the fifth leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe Series, after coming in second best in the opening Leg of the series.

In the Inglis Sydney Juvenile Stakes (1000m) on March 22, which was the juvenile's debut race, the Coats Choice two-year-old with jockey Corey Brown on his back left it late to overtake Bail Out (John Powell) in the final furlong to clinch second place, 1 ¼ lengths behind eventual winner Kubera Warrior, who is also by Coats Choice.

Fine Choice's good performance was unfortunately marred by the discovery of a foot injury sustained during the race, which led to the Mark Walker-trained galloper missing over a month's worth of trackwork to keep him race-competitive.

“He was galloped on at his first-up,” said Walker. “That's why he took so long to get back onto the track.

“There was a bad cut on his near hind leg that required lots of stitches.

“So in light of this, we are just happy he is back to racing this Friday. He has got experience on his side so he should do all right.”

Jockey Manoel Nunes will be tasked with riding him at his second-up run this Friday.

With the final Leg of the series, the $325,000 Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) looming in the horizon, Walker is still undecided if the New Zealand-bred will be taking part in the May 15 showpiece.

“We will have to see how he pulls up after this Friday before deciding which race to put him in,” said the New Zealander.

“We might field him in the Aushorse, and maybe Captain Classique too if he can get a run, but we do not have a definite entry in mind.”