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Champion trainer Michael Clements had the option of running Ocean Crossing in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) after his stunning first-up win, but in the end elected for the softer path towards this Saturday’s $85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m.
Back from a six-month layoff since his unplaced run in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in November, the All Too Hard five-year-old upstaged a few better-fancied runners like Sun Ops, Cheval Rapide and Songgong Hera in a Class 3 race over a 1100m trip thought too sharp for him on May 9.
Sent out at triple-figure odds ($159), the former five-time winner was at his first start for Clements since moving from the now Gold Coast-based Lee Freedman.
With the benefit of hindsight, Clements said the win was not that hard to fathom for a horse who had performed creditably in Group 1 company.
Immediately after the win, the Kranji Mile and its $1 million purse made for an enticing carrot, but in the cold light of day, the Zimbabwean-born conditioner factored in other variables and changed tack.
"Ocean Crossing didn't have enough time to get ready for a race like the Kranji Mile," said Clements.
"From a Polytrack race after a break to get to 1600m next was too much for him, and we thought it would be an easier option to go for that 1400m race tomorrow.
"We're putting him back on turf over a racing distance he has done quite well previously. He has also come on well from that first-up run.
"He definitely has to be included in the top three. He's really going the right way at the moment, and with (last-start winning partner) Shafrizal (Saleh) suspended, he's got CC (Chin Chuen) Wong who is riding in great form at the moment."
Clements also runs Muraahib and Siam Royal Orchid in that race. While he is not holding his breath for the latter, he hopes the change of gear for the former will pay off.
"It'll be tough for Siam Royal Orchid. He's a proven Class 4 performer but he is skipping two classes," he said.
"He gets the claim but (four-kilo claimer) Jerlyn (Seow Poh Hui) can only claim down to 49kgs (from the minimum weight of 50kgs). There was no other race for him, but that will prep him up nicely when he's back in his class.
"Muraahib will have blinkers on this time. At his first run for us in the Lion City Cup, he was without any gear, and then he wore visors.
"He tends to lose his concentration and he went better with the visors, but I think the blinkers will help him concentrate even more.
"His condition has been improving. We've had more time to prepare him and get him where we want him to be.
"He has been improving in his track gallops, and we're happy he's going to the races in the best condition he has been with us.
"Mr Malek will be hard to beat, but Muraahib and Ocean Crossing will be going in with a chance, while Siam Royal Orchid may struggle at this level."
Muraahib, who will have Danny Beasley on board, races in the relatively new colours of the Gandharvi Stable, which is owned by medical entrepreneur Kuldeep Singh Rajput.
The Singaporean-based Indian national has yet to taste success at Kranji, but going with the news of his shopping spree around the world, namely a Kingman two-year-old colt, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Miss Yoda, who was knocked down to him for 590,000 euros at the Arqana breeze-ups at Goffs in Doncaster last week, it shouldn't be too long before he toasts to his first winners, not just in Singapore but around the world.
"The one Kuldeep bought at Arqana will be racing in England. He has also been buying horses from the breeze-up sales in Ocala for the US market," said Clements.
"He has already bought a few yearlings for us. They are in Australia in pre-training."
One of them is a colt by Russian Revolution, who was the sale topper at A$145,000 at the Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale in Melbourne a month ago.
