Vlad won’t stand any nonsense from Miracle Time who is running out of chances

They say every horse has his day but time has all but run out for Miracle Time.

Not that he’d need a miracle to win at Kranji on Friday night. In fact trainer Stephen Gray says he certainly has the ability to win.

“It’s a weak field and even though he wants 1600 metres he should go close to winning,’’ says Gray. “I’ll be very disappointed if he’s not in the first three.

“But I can’t keep making excuses for him. I have doubts about how hard he’s trying and that’s why I’m so pleased to get Vlad to ride him.”

Vlad Duric, Singapore’s top jockey for the last few seasons, and 10 clear in this year’s premiership on 56 wins, has not been on the five-year-old son of Alamosa since his first two starts when he finished sixth and fourth.

“He’s a strong rider and he’ll make sure he tries. But I’ll be telling him to ride him quietly. I don’t want him dug out of the gates and sitting three and four wide. He’ll go back and give him his chance to run home strongly.”

That’s how Miracle Time was ridden on June 7, his first start back from an injury-enforced break when he all but fell out of the gates in March and pulled up sore.

But he ran on well that day to finish only 3.6 lengths from the winner.

Last time, however, on June 28, he jumped so well for rider Ben Thompson that he rode him on speed, disputing the lead until caving in quickly with 250 metres to run.

“I was disappointed the way he dropped out but he just went too hard I think. He’s a much better horse chasing and even though it’s only 1400 metres on the short course on Friday night he’s got to show something.

“But he needs to put his hand up in a hurry because I’ve got him booked to go (to Malaysia).”

Miracle Time, who is zero from seven, could certainly stay that sentence should he win, or even place, on Friday night as the race is worth S$30,000.