English trainer James Peters is hoping for an improved run from talented Irish-bred three-year-old Nova Vocal tin the $80,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1100m this Sunday.

The son of Vocalised certainly gave Peters enough reason to believe he was back to his best after a scintillating winning barrier trial last Thursday, romping in by just under four lengths, accounting for a field that included champion sprinter Lim’s Cruiser (third).

The Nova Racing Stable-owned gelding was once regarded as something out of the box following two impressive Polytrack wins from three starts earlier in the year, albeit in lesser Restricted Maiden and Class 4 Non Premier company.

Even though he was a late starter in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, he was seen as the testing material in the last Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May.

But the wheels unexpectedly came off. Ridden by Hong Kong jockey Karis Teetan, Nova Vocal completely lost the plot from the 1300m after he copped a check, suddenly falling away from the pack before subsequently tailing off badly to run a long last to the winner Mr Clint.

He looked all at sea, and so was Peters and connections after such an out-of-character run. It was back to the drawing board, leaving Peters with no other choice but to put him away for three months.

Nova Vocal’s first-up run from the break in a Class 3 race over 1100m was an encouraging third, but he again failed to frank that form next time out in a Kranji Stakes C race over 1000m on September 23, running out of the placings, though it must be said he got checked inside the last 100m or he could have otherwise finished closer to the winner Silkino.

“He had a few little issues after his run in the Guineas. He took a while to settle down,” said Peters.

“He had no luck at his last start, he bombed the start and dropped back in the field. He then got checked in the straight.

“He has since improved but he’s meeting a strong field on Sunday, with Nationality the horse to beat.”

While it was Craig Grylls who has been his more regular partner and even rode him at that rousing barrier trial win last week, it is Olivier Placais who will be the pilot on Sunday. Peters is banking on the light load of 52kgs on his back for a competitive performance.

“He’s only a lightly-raced horse with some upside. He seems to be improving, and he has a light weight on his back,” said Peters.

“I think he’s a horse who can progress through his grades, but let’s see how he handles it in Class 3 first and we’ll then work out where he goes from there.”