NEXT UP

The Oscar Racing Stable-owned gelding was meant to be ridden by jockey Bernardo Pinheiro in the feature race, but Pinheiro incurred the wrath of the stewards for his handling of Mr Malek at the pair's last run in a Class 1 race on September copping a two-month suspension till December 2 for not riding to their satisfaction. 

The suspension brought a premature end to the visiting Brazilian hoop's riding contract in Singapore, and Burridge had to look for a new rider for Mr Malek two weeks before the big race.

Many were already snapped up for the rides, but the Australian handler managed to secure the service of jockey Marc Lerner. He was seen taking the reins on the six-year-old son of Swiss Ace for the first time in barrier trial 3 last Thursday.

After dropping to last, Lerner sat quietly on Mr Malek until the homestraight when he was nudged along by the Frenchman before finishing third to Surpass Natural (TR Barnabas), with fellow QEII Cup contender Circuit Mission (Benny Woodworth) separating the two.

Burridge and Lerner do not team up together often though the latter began riding in Singapore four years ago. The last time the duo combined was on Split Second who ran third on May 8, and the only time they scored was at Lerner's first win in Singapore on November 2, 2018, with Moritz Eclipse.

A few might have been surprised with Burridge's choice, but he was more than happy to have Lerner on board at Mr Malek's 27th start.

"I have (jockeys) Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) and Harry (A'Isisuhairi Kasim), they were both my (former) apprentice jockeys and we get on well," he explained.

"If I can't use one of them, I get the other. CC (Chin Chuen) Wong's been riding a lot for me and I use him a fair bit too. Marc doesn't ride for me much.

"This time, a few of them have already got rides in the QEII (Cup), so I asked Marc and I'm happy that he accepted the ride.

"He's (Mr Malek) not a brillant trackworker, Marc knows that and he's happy with his trial."

Mr Malek ran a disappointing ninth in the mile three weeks ago, but Burridge has decided to put a line through that run.

"It was bad, I was upset about but the horse came through the race okay and he's trialled okay," said Burridge, who has three wins to his name in the QEII Cup with King And King (2006), Trigger Express (2008) and Wild Geese (2014).

"He's had four runs now (after the Group 1 Kranji Mile in May where he ran third to Lim's Lightning) so he's fit, but the races hasn't been suiting him, both the trips and the weights-wise.

"He also doesn't seem to like racing on the inside. Hopefully he gets a bit more room, unlike at his last start when he was on the rails.

"The barrier doesn't worry me and he's going in with level weights (58kgs) this time (QEII Cup), I hope that can help."

The eight-time winner reeled off a memorable five-in-a-row early doors (all over the 6 f trips) when trained by ex-Kranji trainer Lee Freedman before he transferred over to Burridge's barn.

After proving himself with a win in the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) last year, the progressive galloper made more attempts in the staying feature races, running fourth to Hard Too Think in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) and third behind Lim's Lightning in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) last year.

Once thought to be a sprinter-miler type of horse, Burridge reckons his staying genes are showing nowadays, and connections have already nominated him for the Gold Cup that will be held on November 19.

"Mr Malek  ran third over the 1 1⁄4 m in the Gold Cup (last year) and everyone was sort of surprised, but he's just working and racing like a stayer now," he said.

"He inherited his speed genes from his sire Swiss Ace early doors, but that trait is not so obvious these days.

"He's lost a bit of zip and he can't sprint now, so he needs a true run race.

"It's an open race and I'm happy enough with him, but he's got to improve.

"It has been the plan to run him a second time in the Gold Cup because he ran so well last year.

"If he runs, it will depend on the weight he gets and if Marc can make it (to ride him) because he's heavy."

Mr Malek ran last to Hard Too Think in the QEII Cup last year when Lerner was atop the winner. This year, the two would meet again with 12 other runners in the field that includes last-start winners Hongkong Great and Senor Don, and 2020 QEII Cup winner Top Knight.