By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Michael Clements is optimistic about Celavi’s chances in the KRW 1 billion ($1.04 million) Group 3 Korea Sprint (1200m) on Sunday, as long as the rain stays away.
The 2020 Singapore champion trainer sent Celavi, his first international runner to Seoul, South Korea on Sunday and flew over himself a day later to watch the six-year-old mare on the training tracks.
Clements also attended the post position draw held at the Let’s Run Park Seoul racecourse grandstand building on Thursday morning. He drew barrier no. three for the daughter of Fighting Sun in the field of 12, which includes three other foreign raiders, Annaf (UK), Computer Patch (Hong Kong) and Raptus (Japan).
Though he preferred a middle gate for the reigning champion Polytrack sprinter in Singapore, what mattered more was that she looked to be thriving in her new environment.
“(Number) three’s a good barrier, better than 11, so I’m happy about this,” said the Zimbawean-born handler on Thursday afternoon.
“I wanted (barrier no.) six at first, because in the event that she doesn’t have the same amount of early speed as the Korean horses, she could be just a little bit outside, and not have to cop as much kickback.
“If she’s inside and gets behind leaders, she could get a lot of kickback.
“In saying that, she would have more than enough speed to go with the leaders if she is fast, which I think she should be able to.
“She is a very strong filly, the right type of horse for travel, nothing much bothers her. She was 516kgs last week, dropped nine kilos to 507kgs in Seoul, but she’s travelled well.
“She’s bright in herself and looks great. Though she ate only ¾ of her feed compared to back at home, she’s slowly picking her weight up.”
A still shot of Celavi at her stable.
Celavi, who last ran 10th to Lim’s Kosciuszko in the Group 1 Lion City Cup two weeks ago, was put through the paces with her regular work partner, track rider Hasnir Ishak, on board since Monday morning.
Clements saw the skies opened up on Monday and Tuesday morning when she worked on the wet sand track, which he thought would work against her in the deep sand track, but is still hopeful of a good run from the mare.
“I hope there’s no rain on Sunday. It will be a real slosh,” he said.
“So far, the weather’s been good, but it did rain on Monday and the track got really wet. She had a long walk then, and on Tuesday, she did her slow work.
“She did a fast gallop yesterday morning, and my track rider said that she is in similar form to how she was back at home leading to the races.
“The track was okay and she handled it well. It is similar to the ‘Hong Kong track’ (Track no. 3) that we have in Singapore, about two-and-a-half to three inches thick on top of the firm base.
“She had another long walk this morning. (Jockey) Louis (-Philippe Beuzelin) only arrived this morning, so he will ride her for slow work on Friday and Saturday.
“Each international runner was allocated 15 minutes of work time, starting from 5am. We were given the 5.45am slot.
“I haven’t had time to study the forms of the local horses yet, but I think Japan horses travel well, so I respect Raptus a lot.
“I have a good feeling that she can race well here.”
Japan’s Moanin won the 2018 edition when it was an invitational race, while Korean galloper Blue Chipper claimed the title in 2019, before the race was cancelled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Back in 2014, Singaporean trainer Alwin Tan’s El Padrino famously won the inaugural Group 3 Asia Challenge Cup (1400m), which was the forerunner to the Korea Sprint.
While Clements is looking forward to the race start at 2.35pm (Singapore time) in Seoul on Sunday, he also has seven runners on the cards at Kranji on Saturday.
Among them is the last-start winner Ejaz, who will be backing up in the $75,000 Novice race (1100m). The three-year-old son of Street Boss will be ridden by Clements’ apprentice jockey, Ibrahim Mamat at his first start on the Polytrack.
“He won on turf last week, but from his training and trials, he is well-suited on the Polytrack,” said Clements.
“He has come through his last run in great shape and has a very light weight (Ibrahim will ride him at 49kgs) this time, so he’s in with a chance.
“The hospitality has been good so far and I think that (South) Korea is in the phase of developing their international racing and in time to come, it will become more popular.”
Organised by the Korea Racing Authority, the Korea Sprint was reinstated this year and boasts an International Group 3 status for the first time. The KRW 1 billion ($1.04 million) Group 3 Korea Cup (1800m) will also be held at the same meeting, where it features 10 Korean runners and three from overseas, namely Intellogent (UK), Kings Shield (Hong Kong) and Sekifu (Japan).