Trainer Jerome Tan has yet to open his 2022 account, but also that for arguably his most high-profile owner to have joined him since he moved to Kranji from Penang in 2019, prominent Malaysian outfit Raffles Racing.
As Tan continues to roll out their horses with increasing frequency, the hope is that their renewed partnership soon comes to fruition on the tracks.
Tan used to train for Dato Yap Kim San when he was based in Penang. He was reunited with the Malaysian businessman last October with a first horse, a stable transfer from Mark Walker, Sacred Rebel .
But it's only from this year that the numbers grew exponentially after Walker, who has been Raffles' principal trainer for many years, suddenly left the Singapore circuit.
Horses like Sacred Judgement, Savvy Command and I Am Sacred had actually already been leased to Walker in the last quarter of 2021 under the Remarkable Stable, but Raffles Racing reacquired the whole fleet when the Kiwi four-time Singapore champion trainer returned to New Zealand in December.
Tan was the lucky 'Raffles' winner to welcome the famous yellow, purple and white checked sleeves to his yard.
Sacred Rebel has already had two starts for the Singaporean trainer without flattering while Sacred Croix, arguably Raffles Racing's best horse in recent years, has just had the one outing, also finishing back in the field.
A newcomer, Beyond Sacred (x Savabeel), had not much joy either in a Class 4 event over 1200m when ridden by John Sundradas two weeks ago, and will have another crack in a similar contest this Sunday as part of a three-pronged Sacred attack from Tan, who incidentally, has no other horses for the day.
The other two are Sacred Judgement (x So You Think) and Sacred Gift (x Zoustar) in the two $70,000 Class 3 events, the 1400m on turf and 1200m on Polytrack respectively, with Tan pinning the highest hopes on four-time Polytrack (1000m to 1100m) winner Sacred Gift.
"Sacred Gift trialled very well two weeks ago (January 27). He's my best chance among the three (Dato Yap horses)," said Tan.
"He's drawn well (barrier No 5) and Marc Lerner will ride him. If I was to train a first winner for Dato Yap this week, he would be the one."
Sacred Gift, who hasn't saluted since June, has, however, been performing well without winning, the latest being a closing fourth to the smart Heartening Flyer in a 1200m Polytrack in November.
Tan is less confident for the other two "Sacred's", just keeping fingers crossed they come around safe with an encouraging run a bonus.
"Sacred Judgement is okay, he's in good shape. It's his first run for me and I don't know much about him as he last ran for Mark Walker," said Tan of the four-time winner (1200m to 1400m).
"At his last start, he ran over 1600m for the first time, and ran unplaced. I think he's more a 1200m to 1400m type of horse.
"He's not 100% ready, but I hope from the good barrier (one), he will enjoy a good run and show something positive. Shafrizal (Saleh) will ride him.
"As for Beyond Sacred, I'm expecting an improved run from him."
Though five years of age, Beyond Sacred is only lightly-raced having had only four starts in New Zealand for a consistent record of four placings (two seconds and two thirds). Second-up, he even ran second at Tauranga (1600m) to an Australian Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1600m) winner in Elephant in September.
Local rider Zyrul Nor Azman takes over from John on Beyond Sacred.
Tan does not have any great expectations from the Sacred trio, other than to see encouraging runs which can only bode well for their future under his care.
"I'm very grateful to Dato Yap for sending me around 10 horses. He gave me my only Group winner (Mr Ambassador in the Perak Derby in 2012) and let's hope we can start kicking home some winners soon," said Tan.
After a decent mid-table finish on 20 winners in 2021, a season that more or less mirrors his first two campaigns in 2019 and 2020, Tan has yet to get off the mark after fielding 41 starters this year.
