Schutz decides Dwyer is the right man to partner Gallery in Singapore
Andreas Schutz has ended a wide search with England's Martin Dwyer the new jockey for Champions Gallery in the S$3 million (HK$15.5 million) Singapore International Airlines Cup on Sunday week.
The Derby placegetter's regular rider, Olivier Doleuze, preferred to ride at Sha Tin so Schutz was forced to look elsewhere for the Kranji race.
'I'm happy with the horse, he's in good form but obviously he is not going to be the favourite and Olivier wants to give himself the best chance he can of winning the jockeys' title,' Schutz said. Dwyer, who finished second on Phoenix Reach in the 2005 SIA Cup, was one of three riders contacted by Schutz. 'And he was the first to get back to me and say yes. I'm happy to have him,' the trainer said.
'He has ridden for me in Germany, though not won for me, but I know Martin's style and I wanted someone with experience in Singapore. He has won an Epsom Derby and a Hong Kong Vase, so the big event won't worry him.'
Schutz reported that Champions Gallery galloped the left-handed Singapore direction at Sha Tin last Friday. 'He'll have another this Friday then travels Sunday to Singapore,' he said. 'While he's there, he'll have one real piece of work and that will be enough.' Schutz also has Good Ba Ba, one of four horses in quarantine for a trip to Japan and the Yasuda Kinen should the restriction on horses due to the equine herpes virus outbreak at Sha Tin be lifted.
'It's funny. When I came here in March last year, I was thinking it would probably be a while before I was involved in the major events or travelling horses for important races overseas but it has happened a lot quicker than I could have thought,' Schutz said. 'Good Ba Ba is doing fine. The quarantine isn't really interrupting the horses' training, it's convenient and we have all the facilities to use. The only difference is that they have to work a bit later so it can be quite hot already by the time they are on the track.'
