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Trainer Michael Clements expects a forward run from promising mare Siam Vipasiri at her comeback race this Sunday even if he admitted that the 1000m trip might be on the sharp side.
Clements, who just returned from a two-week holiday in his native Zimbabwe, was feeling just as refreshed as the Bernardini four-year-old, and certainly eager to see her first-up run in the $70,000 Class 3 Division 2 speed dash.
Siam Vipasiri was one of a three-year-old batch packed with talent that Clements let loose at the last Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge. While the three-time winner (1200m) did not win any of the three Legs, she was not disgraced either behind star stablemate Top Knight, who took the honours with two wins, including the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m).
The Singapore Guineas on May 25 was actually Siam Vipasiri's last assignment. Sporting blinkers that day, she came from a berth worse than midfield to run a meritorious fifth.
Four months have since elapsed and the Pupetch Racing Stable-owned mare has given every indication she was ready to commence her new campaign. At her second barrier trial on September 19, she showed an abundance of speed to lead all of the way for new partner Louis-Philippe Beuzelin.
"Siam Vipasiri had a tough campaign. She came undone in the mile race, which told me she had come to the end of her prep," said Clements.
"I have given her a good break and she has come back really bright and happy. The 1000m is a bit short, but she is coming back from a break and she may still be in with some sort of a chance.
"She's always been fairly speedy. It's only at her last starts that she raced back, but as she's very fresh, she showed that speed in her work and barrier trials.
"I haven't looked at the speedmap of the race, but from barrier No 3, she will be going forward and settle where she is comfortable.
"Louis has done all her trackwork and he really likes the filly a lot."
As Siam Vipasiri's long-term goal, Clements has locked in the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge which, in a recent press release, was brought forward to an earlier slot in February-April as from next year, but also an earlier feature race by year-end.
"We'll see how she goes first-up. Hopefully, we can set her for the 1400m race on the Gold Cup weekend (Group 2 EW Barker Trophy on November 8)," he said.
"Then we will obviously look at the 4YO series for her next year."
Following his strong foothold in this year's 3YO series, Clements was among the many trainers who gave the new time slot for the 4YO series the thumbs-up, more so when his team was strengthened further with the arrival of Bold Thruster from trainer Shane Baertschiger.
Unfortunately, the son of Turffontein has yet to score in two starts (both times second) for Clements, but from the way he bravely fought his way to the line in last Friday's Class 2 race over 1200m, it is a matter of time before the wait ends.
Like all those who saw the race, Clements, who caught the live streaming of the race on his smartphone from Zimbabwe, watched in horror when the black gelding missed the kick but came away mightily impressed with the way he rolled forward three to four deep to still hold on gamely for a neck-second to Grand Koonta.
The good news for the Tivic Stable-owned galloper's legion of fans is that Clements believes he may have found the solution to that flaw of his.
"Bold Thruster was in a great vein of form after his second to Countofmontecristo in the Group 2 Merlion Trophy. He backed up nicely coming back from that first run," he said.
"Unfortunately, we saw he hasn't been jumping well from the barriers at his last couple of starts, even when he was still with Shane. He did it again on Friday and that cost him the race even though the apprentice jockey (Shafrizal Saleh) rode him very well.
"I think we'll take the blinkers off at his next start. His trials were without them, and he jumped really well and he trialled very well, too; he won't race as keen."