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Trainer Michael Clements was keeping his fingers crossed for smart miler Chopin’s Fantaisie after the noted bleeder came out of a lengthy ban for his first barrier trial on Tuesday morning.

The son of Pins was outed for the mandatory six months after he suffered a second bleeding setback following his last-start win in a Kranji Stakes B race over 1400m on April 1 last year.

That dogfight win by a nose from Viviano was actually at his comeback race from that very first bleeding attack in the Group 1 Raffles Cup in October, 2017.

Clements and Jubilant Racing Stable’s Joshua Tan were rubbing their hands in anticipation as regular partner Vlad Duric brought their precious charge back to scales. It was one step closer to the lofty target they had set: The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge and Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m).

But as the gelding was unsaddled, Clements’ heart sank. His worst fears were realised; he had bled again.

To say it was another spanner in the works was a gross understatement. All the patience and hard work to bring him back had been snuffed out in just one race.

Another testing time awaited them - and even longer to endure. Some connections might have thrown in the towel there and then, but not Clements and Tan.

Clements could even derive a positive spin from Chopin’s Fantaisie’s condition, one of racehorses’ most common scourges.

“He had a great spell up at Sandy Lines’ place (in Malaysia) at the old National Stud Farm, and has had a great prep,” said the Zimbabwean-born handler.

“The good thing about him is while bleeding is a horrible experience for most horses, he seems to bounce back well from it.

“At his last start, he showed that amazing will to win even though he had bled. Imagine how good he would have been if he didn’t bleed.

“He’s only lightly-raced, and he has the greatest temperament. You can do anything with him.”

Still, Clements is taking no chances. Another bleed, and it’s game over this time.

“We’ll retire him if he bleeds again. We’ve altered his training routine a little,” he said after he had a chat with Glen Boss following his casual spin to beat one home in his barrier trial won by Ararat Lady (Michael Rodd).

“We’re trying not to swim him as, apparently, it can aggravate bleeding. We’re also making sure the stable environment is as clean as possible.

“He had a great trial this morning. He jumped well and was interested throughout.

“Glen sat on him and said he could have anytime pushed him up and he would have moved away, but he held on to him.

“I’ll give him another trial in two weeks’ time and we’ll take it from there.”

Clements has not cast anything in stone, not even the rider even if the booking of Boss in the trial was a possible pointer he could be a race-partner. Duric could not jump aboard on Tuesday as he is still not back from a foot injury sustained in a race on Sunday.

“I got Glen to ride him today as Vlad has not come back since he was stood down on Sunday,” said Clements.

“It could be either one of them (to ride him), depending on the weights he gets. If it’s a weight Vlad can make, he will ride, or else we would be pleased to have Glen on board.

“We have not locked in any race for him yet. It’s likely going to be a Kranji Stakes or Class race, perhaps not a Cup race yet.”