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James Peters was in the end swayed by Siam Warrior’s much lighter weight in a Class 2 affair this Saturday.

The English trainer had been a little torn between a rise in grade to the 85,000 Class 2 race over 1100m and the status quo in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on turf.

On paper, the latter had the allure of the softer option, albeit the last-start winner would then have to cop a much heavier handicap.

But Peters thought he might not get another chance at testing Siam Warrior  at a higher level given he was not so new anymore.

While the Exceed And Excel seven-year-old holds the distinction of being the only local horse to have defeated Inferno at Kranji, he has, however, never won past Class 3 company.

As a matter of fact, that famous one blemish he put on Inferno's (now racing as The Inferno in Australia and is already a Group 2 winner there) local CV on February 29, 2020 then capped a winning streak of three wins on the bounce from Class 4 to Class 3.

Four defeats at Class 2 level then ensued, which was to stretch to 16 starts on end without saluting for a barren run that was only snapped in a Class 3 race over 1200m two weeks ago for his fifth career success.

Peters is feeling a little more sanguine about that second tilt back at Class 2 level reaping better results this time.

"Siam Warrior has always been pretty consistent. He's been knocking on the door, but he never could get his head in front," he said.

"Then he got a bleed, and we had to give him a break for some time off. He has since come back in pretty good form.

"It's worked out well as that time off has given him more time to strengthen up.

"He is usually ridden up with the pace, but he won at his last start after I told Marc (Lerner) to ride him quieter.

"There was a Class 3 1200m where he would have carried 59kgs and a Class 2 1100m where he gets only 50kgs.

"That Class 2 race will be difficult and tough for him as there are some nice horses in the race, but I'll take my chance.

"The 1100m is on the sharp side, but they'll go very fast. He has drawn well in three, and we're just going to ride him where he is comfortable, and ride him patiently."

With Lerner unable to make the weight, Peters has handed the reins to A'Isisuhairi Kasim.

"Harry is a good lightweight rider and Siam Warrior is a pretty straightforward horse," said Peters.

"From the good barrier, I'm sure he'll give him a good ride."

The Ultima Racing Stable-owned sprinter did don blinkers and winkers earlier in the year, but Peters realised he can do without them.

"We put the blinkers on to get some improvement, just to try something different, so he doesn't go too hard, or race too aggressive," he said.

"But he's a genuine horse and we realised he doesn't need them. He's been doing well without them since."

Siam Warrior's last win brought Peters' score up to 13 winners before he added one more last Saturday with Emergency Acceptor Wind Of Dubai.

With only five meetings left in the 2021 season, Peters faces a tall order in bettering his previous lowest haul of 22 winners from last year, which was the first pandemic-stricken season, but hopes to end the season on a brighter note.

"This season has been tough for everyone, you can say it's been average," he said.

"But we've also had a lot of seconds and thirds. If they had gone the other way (win), my score could have been a lot better.

"All I can hope for now is to find another couple of winners by the end of the season, and then we can move to the next year."