3 minute read
Trainer Michael Clements is hoping the time away has done last-start winner Magnum Force a power of good ahead of his racing comeback this Sunday.
The US-bred three-year-old by relatively unknown sire Jimmy Creed (only other progeny in Singapore is the unraced Crystal Dragon with trainer Jason Lim) was tipped out after he sprang a surprise win under Daniel Moor at his last start in a Restricted Maiden race over 1600m on Kranji Mile day in May.
He will run in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m on a surface he has yet to conquer, Polytrack – unplaced at his only attempt on debut in a 1000m speed dash in January.
But Clements is confident the alternative track does not undermine the performance of the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned galloper.
"Magnum Force is getting back up on Polytrack. He should handle it okay as he is by a relatively new stallion, Jimmy Creed, who won both on turf and dirt," said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
"He's a horse who has always shown ability, but just needed a bit of time to strengthen up. He's a bit behind as he is a Northern Hemisphere-bred horse.
"He won his last race and did a good job that day. We always felt he would be better over the mile on turf.
"He needed a break after that win, and I think he has greatly benefitted from the break.
"He had a good gallop this morning, and I was very happy with that piece of work. Daniel rode him and will ride him again on Sunday."
Clements saddles three other runners on that day, including another last-start winner in My First Million in the other Class 4 race (Division 2) over 1200m. Za'eem and Official are the other two runners.
"My First Million won at his last start but he will be up in class this time," said Clements who currently sits in second spot on the Singapore trainer's premiership on 44 winners, trailing Mark Walker by 13 winnners.
"On Sunday, I've got only two runners – Alamak and Royal Pavilion. Royal Pavilion was too keen at his last start with blinkers on over 1400m.
"I'm dropping him back to 1000m and dropping the blinkers, hoping the faster pace will help settle him better. He will be up in class, though, from Class 5 to Class 4."
The Tivic Stable-owned Royal Pavilion is a Casino Prince four-year-old who had just the one run for Clements, finishing a disappointing eighth when well-backed in a Class 5 race over 1400m on August 16.
He actually came off a win, his account-opener at his last start for trainer Shane Baertschiger in a Class 5 race over 1200m on May 10, but was moved shortly after, along with Tivic's higher profile transfer Bold Thruster and Stay The Course. The relocation occurred shortly after Bold Thruster's defeat in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on May 25.
Bold Thruster's first run for Clements produced a shorthead second to stablemate Countofmontecristo in the Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on August 25.
