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The Michael Clements yard is hoping a step-up to a more suitable distance will enhance Top Knight’s winning prospects this Sunday.

After the two-Leg winner of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge was sidelined for four months through a minor suspensory sprain - detected shortly after his first win as a four-year-old in August and which curtailed his Singapore Triple Crown series plans - he returned to competition with a first-up second in a Class 2 race over 1200m won by Altair on January 18.

The son of Zoustar will this time go over 1400m, a trip he has conquered at four of his seven wins. He is set to carry 57kgs in the $85,000 Class 2 race, with his future endeavours charted towards the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge which kicks off with the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on February 29 and culminates with the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on April 18.

Assistant-trainer Michael White said the six furlongs were always a worry for the Thai-owned galloper, but they were still pleased with the way he attacked the line under Vlad Duric's hard riding. The three-time Singapore champion jockey is back aboard the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned gelding on Sunday.

"That race was always going to make him vulnerable first-up. The 1200m is short of his best distance," said White.

"He still ran a good second to Altair. He will come back to a better distance, 1400m, this time.

"He's a very straightforward nonchalant horse, but is the ultimate professional on raceday. We just had to keep him ticking over."

The same idleness can be said of another smart four-year-old contender of Clements' about to make his racing comeback this Friday – Siam Blue Vanda.

The five-time winner has not been seen since reeling off two wins – in Class 4 and 3 - in a row at the end of last season. The son of Echoes Of Heaven is rising in grade in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m where he will be coupled with another first-up 4YO candidate for Clements, Real Success (x Reset), but more skewed towards the later and longer-distance Legs.

"We backed Siam Blue Vanda  off after his two wins. He's had a couple of trials and is going well coming into this race," said White.

"He's a horse with natural ability, even if he's a plain worker. You just have to take him on trust, that's just his make-up.

"He's also going towards the 4YO series. Real Success is also a four-year-old, but in his case, you'll see the best of him in the Derby."

Clements has booked Daniel Moor and Duric on Siam Blue Vanda (51kgs) and Real Success (54kgs) respectively.

"It'll be a bit of a test but the horse trialled well the other day. We'll see what unfolds," said Moor who will at his first association on the Pupetch Racing Stable-owned gelding.