Kranji stalwart Mr Clint might not have been able to seal a first win for the new Al Rashid Stable-Mark Walker combination yet, but the pair will this week turn their hopes to youth to crack it.
Helmed by Kuwaiti owner Fahad Ibrahim Khalid Al-Rashid, the relative Kranji newcomer was already a growing racing empire in UK, US and the Middle-East before they set their sights on Asian racing, with Malaysia the first port of call around three years ago.
It wasn't long before the Kuala Lumpur-based real estate developer launched his Singapore chapter, kicking off by sending a small three-horse team to ex-Kranji trainer Saimee Jumaat in 2019 before moving to Michael Clements with an exponentially bigger squad that included the likes of Voluminous, Day Approach and So Hi Class, all winners already.
Al Rashid recently put some eggs in a second Kranji basket, which happens to be Clements' arch-rival Walker with five horses, including three US-bred three-year-olds, with Qaidoom and Walim the first two of that cohort to race this Sunday.
Mr Clint was their inaugural runner but the 2019 Singapore Gold Cup winner is not an original acquisition, but a 'pre-owned' stable transfer from Lee Freedman. In three starts, the son of Power has not quite matched the form that saw him chalk up five wins for the now Sunshine Coast-based Freedman and first owner Oscar Racing Stable.
Walker is not sure whether either Qaidoom or Walim can bring better luck on Sunday, but the Kiwi three-time Singapore champion trainer sees no reason why they won't do their part in strengthening up the budding partnership in the near future.
With their US breeding a virtual unknown in this part of the world, albeit highly-credentialled, Walker can only run his eyes over their work for a guide to any signs of ability.
First to go in Race 2, the $20,000 Open Maiden (1000m) will be Qaidoom, a grey roan filly who is the first progeny of a full brother to the legendary Frankel (x Galileo) Noble Mission, to race at Kranji.
By coincidence, a second Noble Mission (himself a UK multiple-Group winner in his own right) steps out two races later in the $20,000 Open Maiden (1400m), but for entirely different connections - Strike For Shining for American breeding fan Kuah Cheng Tee.
It's in that same event that Al Rashid's second Walker also makes his Kranji debut, Walim, who is by 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Tourist (x Tiznow), represented in Singapore by only another horse, the Leslie Khoo-trained Kobe, but who is still unraced.
"Fahad actually sent these young horses to me first. It's only later that he bought Mr Clint when Lee left," said Walker.
"Of the two debutants this Sunday, Qaidoom is the more forward. She's run three trials and won one, she's quite a speedy on-pace filly, and the 1000m race will suit first-up.
"She has drawn four after the three EAs (Emergency Acceptors) are scratched, which is a pretty good barrier, but I think she will have to beat Lim's Denali.
"I do know that Darci Brahma filly quite well as she was a trial winner back home (New Zealand). She's also got more racing experience (four runs for one second at Kranji for trainer Daniel Meagher).
"Walim has trialled okay (one second from three trials), but will need more ground and more experience. He's a staying type of horse, and may need the run on Sunday."
Walker has booked his leading apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin on Qaidoom and his former champion apprentice jockey Shafiq Rizuan on Walim, who has drawn nicely in four, down to three after the scratchings.
The other three horses Al Rashid has with Walker are one-time trial winners Maaroof and Dinar, both also unraced three-year-olds, and older horse Bleu Marine.
By First Samurai (x Giant's Causeway), Maaroof also hails from America while Dinar is a New Zealand-bred by Dalghar (x Anabaa), and Bleu Marine is a tried Irish-bred five-year-old French import by Dark Angel (x Acclamation) who already won one race for Al Rashid at Chantilly (1600m) and campaigned in both France and Dubai.
