Things are on the upswing for trainer Michael Clements, not only in terms of winners, but the occupancy rate at his stables as well.
With two winners (Knight Chen Bay on debut and Alibi) on Sunday to improve his score to 25 and shore up his ninth spot on the ladder, just two behind nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon, it is fair to say the Zimbabwean-born handler is having more than a decent season thus far.
But it could have easily flipped the other way when eight horses left his yard in February. The Jubilant Racing Stable moved its high-profile Argentinian-breds to Patrick Shaw, but did leave the Australian and New Zealand-breds with Clements.
Such voids are not always easy to fill at the drop of a hat, but Clements thought the imminent return of 10 horses who had been spelling in Malaysia would come in handy. He had not reckoned with Mother Nature.
Equine Influenza in Malaysia and strangles in Singapore brought all horse transportation in either direction of the Causeway to a standstill. The 10 horses were stranded up North and he had to make do with a diminished string.
“I had 10 horses who were stuck in Malaysia because of EI and then strangles. They were away for more than a year,” said Clements.
“They were first resting in Cameron Highlands and were meant to head back here. I then had to send them to Sandy Lines’ farm so they could start working.
“Luckily, the ban was lifted and they’ve been back here for two months now. Three of them, Touch Me Not, Bravo Charlie and Astrospeed trialled today and I was happy with the way they went.
“They should be racing very soon.”
The other spellers who are back in the fold are Keltic Karma, an unraced Irish-bred named Chamarel and five belonging to New Zealand owner Graham Mackie, Ace Rich, Azure, Baby Grand, Orchard Road and Zedkaar.
“They’ve taken longer to come back than planned, but I would say it’s worked in their favour in the end. Most of them had a few issues with only four of them needing a break,” said Clements.
“Touch Me Not was doing really well after three wins in three starts, and even ran third to Kiwi Karma in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, but he had some tendon injury shortly after that.
“Astrospeed (winner at the last of his three runs) also had some minor tendon issues while Bravo Charlie just needed a break after he went a little sour after his three-in-a-row.
“They look fresh and fitter in general. It’s all worked out for the better.”
Clements’ Australian assistant-trainer Michael White agreed that the longer “holiday” turned out to be a blessing in disguise, especially from what he saw in Tuesday’s barrier trial. Touch Me Not (Kif Toh) ran second to Ninetyseven Gold (Oscar Chavez) with another gap to Astrospeed (Vlad Duric) who finished fifth while Bravo Charlie (Alan Munro) ran last, but was never tested at any stage.
“They all went really well, Bravo Charlie had a quiet run as that’s what he usually does. They’ve all benefitted quite a lot from the trial,” said White.
“That trial will determine what we do with them next, but I would say they would need one more trial before they race.”
