He may have won the Singapore trainers’ championship in 2020 and put the polish on over 20 Group winners in his time at Kranji, but it was another first for trainer Michael Clements when he saddled an amazing five winners on the 11-race meeting on Saturday.

Lucky Charm ($13) opened the Clements' account for the day with an easy two-length win for jockey Wong Chin Chuen in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1400m before stable apprentice jockey – Ibrahim Mamat – made it a double with Greatham Girl ($20) in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1100m three races later.

But it was late in the card when the stable gained steam with South Of The River  ($10), Absolute Radiance  ($23) and Prodigal  ($41) firing in quick succession.

Ridden by Wong, South Of The River was probably the most impressive of the trio winning first-up after a nine-month spell in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1000m (see previous report) and Absolute Radiance gave jockey Vlad Duric's backers something to cheer about after he got up by a nose in the $30,000 Class 5 race over the mile.

But it was the problematic horse, Prodigal, that would have given the respected trainer his biggest thrill. The Functioning Degenerates Stable-owned gelding was given the gem of a ride by the in-form jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong and he got up in a thriller in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m.

After late support on the tote, Kok settled the son of Proisir at the rear of the 12-horse field with only last-start Class 5 winner Engine Start (Zyrul Nor Azman) and barrier rogue, Ima (Ronnie Stewart) behind him.

Flashfast (Jake Bayliss) led them up early and made all the running on the Long Course but had plenty of company at the 400m with Atlas (Wong), Green Star (Jerlyn Seow) and Born To Win (Marc Lerner) all looming as winning chances.

A blanket finish was on the cards and with fancied runners Istataba (Ibrahim) and Hardcore (Duric) both peaking on their runs at the 200m, it was anyone's race and race caller Pat Comerford did not know where to look.

"Prodigal late! Prodigal from absolutely nowhere!" was the call over the line by the excited Australian. The five-year-old had won in the last stride by a head to Born To Win, with Atlas another nose away in third and Green Star another head in fourth.

The winning time was 1 min 35.06secs for the 1600m on the Long Course. Prodigal's third career win took his winnings to over $120,000.

Clements looked a satisfied and happy man after he bagged his first five-timer in Singapore in 24 years of training in Singapore.

"I had five (winners in a day) back home in Zimbabwe," said the lanky handler when asked about his biggest haul by racing presenter Scott Bailey after the race.

"I've had four in Singapore, so this (result) is a first for me in Singapore."

Of Prodigal's win, it was a relief for Clements to see him show his best.

"He's a difficult horse. Mind-wise, he's just a difficult horse to have in a consistent place all the time," he continued.

"He's very flighty and very fiery. We had been hoping that with time – and it has taken a long time – that eventually the penny was going to drop with him and he would settle down.

"His last win in a Class 5 race (on July 24) was okay. He's actually been running some fair races since then.

"The mile and the way Simon rides – the style of getting back and being patient on horses - would definitely suit him.

"He's come through, won and headed in the right direction. Finally!"

Kok – who had earlier ridden Burgundy Lad ($20) to win the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1200m and made it a treble with Deception ($18) in the Lucky Last ($50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m) – agreed that a patient ride was needed.

"I would say the last furlong – the last 200m – he really took a long time to wind up," said the Ipoh-born jockey.

"He still had plenty underneath him from the 600m. He was tracking up so nice - plenty in hand.

"I was lucky – there was a big run on the inside – so I took it and he just kept winding up.

"I didn't think I would win until the last 150m and I swopped (the whip) to the left and he started making ground - stronger and stronger.

"He's still very immature. He will get longer and when he matures, he will be better."

While still a long shot for the 2022 trainers' premiership with only four meetings remaining in the season, the five-timer does put Clements (47 wins) only nine wins behind the leading Donna Logan and Tim Fitzsimmons, who both sit on 56 wins.

Can he pull off the impossible?

"Ha! Too much too late!" quipped Clements.

"But our horses are in form and if we keep the ball rolling, you never know in this game."