3 minute read
Bold Thruster was first home at the business end of Thursday’s star-studded barrier trial, but the more significant test to trainer Michael Clements occurred at barrier rise.
The talented Turffontein four-year-old boasts a proud record of seven wins and four placings from 14 starts, including three wins at Group 3 level, but it could have been even more impressive had he not bungled the start on at least three occasions.
It was even more a case of what could have been had he jumped cleanly at his last start in the Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m) when he stood flatfooted upon despatch, missing the start by five lengths, but still rattled home for third, beaten only 3 ½ lengths by Nowyousee.
On Thursday, donning visors in the trial, he was on his best behaviour in the pens, began brilliantly from barrier one to take up the running before going on to score in 1min 0.11sec under champion jockey Vlad Duric.
With his next assignment, the $175,000 Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) only 10 days away, the improved barrier manners certainly gave Clements one less item to worry about.
"Today's trial was all about making sure he jumps well. He stood well in the barriers, jumped on terms; the whole test was nicely achieved today," said Clements, whose record with the Tivic Stable-owned star is up to now only one win and three placings from five starts.
"He had the barrier blanket and wore visors, which he will wear in the Fortune Bowl. I've just kept him ticking over since his last run in the New Year Cup, and he's going into the race in great order."
Clements would be hard-pressed to decide which of his two triallers performed the best from a Fortune Bowl perspective. His stable stalwart Countofmontecristo ran on beautifully under new partner Michael Rodd to take second spot in a trial that looked like a dress rehearsal of the Chinese New Year race.
Other Fortune Bowl contenders were Pennywise (third), What's New (sixth) and War Affair (last) while Clements also had his up-and-coming middle-distance performer Real Success (seventh) in the mix.
"Countofmontecristo is in great shape. He's now had two trials and the 1400m first-up is ideal," said Clements of the Group race stalwart, whose last run produced a meritorious third to Mr Clint in the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November.
"The problem with older horses is they tend to be handicapped out of it if it's at weight-for-age, but he's not too badly treated at the weights in the Fortune Bowl.
"If War Affair runs, then he will carry 57kgs, and Count will be on 56kgs, which is not too bad. In the Gold Cup, he was very competitive with 57kgs."
