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Real Efecto stamped his three-year-old credentials with a facile victory in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over the Polytrack mile on Saturday.

Having already shown his forwardness at three of his four previous starts, the Australian-bred son of Real Impact again tapped into that trait, but with much happier results this time.

Partnered by champion jockey Vlad Duric – who was making a riding comeback after missing three meetings through a throat issue – Real Efecto never gave the backers who hammered him into $7 any anxious moments once he secured the steel from a quick getaway.

Longshot Oud Wood (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) was the only one who wouldn't leave him alone for a large part of the 1600m journey, but once they straightened up for the judge, the issue was quickly put beyond doubt.

After pinching a decisive break at the 300m, Real Efecto  went on to assert his clear superiority on the rest of the field. Tim Fitzsimmons' Ace Sovereign (John Powell) won the battle for the minors two and three-quarter lengths away, just touching out stablemate Super Atas (Marc Lerner) for the runner-up spot by a short head, for a trifecta that is likely to again figure among the leading roles in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) in June.

The winning time was 1min 39.69secs for the Polytrack mile.

Kok, who was recording only his second win for 2021 (first was Kinabalu Warrior on February 7), certainly wished all wins could be that clear cut. The local trainer said his confidence grew exponentially the more Real Efecto settled into his strides and nothing was giving any inkling of a threat at any stage.

"This horse has plenty of speed, and is a class above this lot," said Kok who owns a share of the gelding.

"He will be going for the second Leg of the 3YO series (Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on July 18), but I'm not sure about the first Leg (Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m on June 27).

"He's more of a 1400m-mile type of horse. We'll see how it goes."

Duric said Real Efecto won on raw ability and still needed further polishing despite the ease of the win.

"When that other horse (Oud Wood) came on his girth, he came under pressure and overraced. He wouldn't settle as he's so strong," said the four-time Singapore champion jockey.

"He's still learning. He's a big raw horse, with more racing, he will learn to settle better."

In five starts, Real Efecto, who was wearing pacifiers for the first time on Saturday, has established a record of one win, one second and one third in five starts for prizemoney in excess of $65,000 for Kok and his associates.