By Larry Foley
Trainer Michael Clements will be a busy man this Sunday with 15 horses from his stable nominated for the races at Kranji and one, Celavi, jumping on a plane to South Korea.
The Polytrack specialist has been invited by the Korean Racing Authority to represent Singapore in the KRA KRW 1 billion ($1.04 million) Group 3 Korea Sprint (1200m) at the Seoul Racecourse on September 4.
According to the Zimbabwean-born trainer, Celavi leaves in terrific order.
“She’s going really well,” said Clements on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ve had her in work that long, so it’s pretty straightforward whether she’s right or not right.
‘The weight got her two starts back on the turf and things didn’t go her way in the (Group 1) Lion City (Cup). The wet turf track didn’t help that day and it got a bit hectic early.”
Clements does not have turf to worry about in South Korea but there is some concern over the infamous ‘thick’ sand at the Seoul Racecourse.
“It is an unknown,” said the naturalised Singaporean.
“But I’ve made some enquiries and it’s thicker than what we have at Kranji but it’s not as deep as some people think it is.
“She will work and have a final gallop on the sand and (jockey) Louis (-Philippe Beuzelin) – he heads there on Wednesday (August 31) – will have a good idea whether or not she handles the surface before race day.
“But I actually think the biggest query is the distance. She may need it easy early to see out a strong 1200m on that track.”
And what of her 12 opponents, of which three others are contenders from UK, Hong Kong and Japan?
“I think the Japanese horse (Raptus) has to be respected as they always seem to travel well, but he is lightly-raced,” said Clements.
“The local horses definitely have an advantage being familiar with the track conditions but both the English horse (Annaf) and the horse from Hong Kong (Computer Patch) will go well if they handle the sand.”
After a few aborted plans to travel with horses overseas, Clements is very much looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m going to enjoy the experience,” he said.
“Obviously the opportunity to travel internationally previously didn’t eventuate so I’m looking forward to heading to South Korea on Monday (August 29) to oversee her work and I think I have the right horse.”
Closer to home, Clements has three horses – Top Knight, Prosperous Return and Tiger Roar – nominated for the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m on the turf on Sunday.
Top Knight did win over 1600m in Class 1 company two starts back (June 11) but the multiple Group winner may find the 1400m a tad short.
The same cannot be said for Prosperous Return who has an excellent winning record over seven furlongs – three wins from four attempts – and his last-start win over this trip in Kranji Stakes B Company where he carried 58 kgs (July 2) suggests he is a huge show on Sunday with 3.5 kgs less to carry.
Likewise, Tiger Roar – who is first-up after a very tough run in the Group 1 Singapore Derby on July 17– looks extremely well-placed over 1400m with only 51.5kgs on his back.
“(Jockey) Vlad’s (Duric) is on Top Knight but he will need a wet track over this trip to show his best with that weight (58 kgs),” said Clements of his highest-rated horse among the trio.
“(Jockey) Ronnie (Stewart) stays on Prosperous Return and I was really happy the way he won at his last start.
“It was a taxing run, so for him to win first-up after a bleeding attack was very good. He looks back on track to head towards some of the bigger races later in the year.”
Clements was referring to the last two Group 1 races of the year – the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 1800m on October 15 and the Singapore Gold Cup over 2000m on November 19 – the same races on the radar of Tiger Roar.
“He (Tiger Roar) had a really tough run in the (Group 1 Singapore) Derby so I was disappointed that he didn’t get to show his best,” said Clements of the 2021 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint winner.
“He came through the run really well though and his trial last Thursday was very good; I think he has come back stronger.
“I think he is in for a good campaign – he’s been impressive at the track and trials – and hopefully (jockey) Simon (Kok) can have his work permit sorted out and ride him on Sunday.”
The $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on the turf also has a big Clements’ presence with Coin Toss, Ejaz and Petrograd all representing the stable.
Of the three, only Ejaz has race experience – he finished third on debut behind Fadaboy as favourite on July 24 – and Clements thinks he will improve for the run.
“He didn’t track up as well as we thought he would early in that race,” said the 2020 champion trainer of the Street Boss three-year-old.
“He was also green in the straight but has trialled well since so it looks like he learnt a lot that day and he should go close with (jockey) (Marc) Lerner riding.”
Of his two debutants, Clements points to trial form with Petrograd the pick.
“He (Petrograd) is from a boom stallion (Russian Revolution) and trialled well in Australia before arriving at my stable,” he continued.
“He trialled well here too and we expect him to be very competitive with Vlad riding.
“Coin Toss finished a few lengths in second behind Petrograd at the trials (heat no. 1 on August 18) but he should go okay and Harry (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) will ride him on Sunday.”