Up-and-coming middle-distance performer Only Win is a notable absentee in the $200,000 Group 3 Moonbeam Vase this Sunday. The reason behind: A most untimely and unfortunate injury suffered over the weekend.
A noteworthy fourth to Jupiter Gold at his last start in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 15, the US-bred four-year-old was coming along nicely for his comeback in the feature race, which was for the first time dropped from 1800m to 1600m.
As a last finishing touch, trainer Michael Clements put the three-time winner (1200m, 1400m and 1600m) in a barrier trial last Thursday, when he ran on for a pleasing fifth to 2017 Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry, a fellow Moonbeam Vase-bound contender. It was all systems go, but trouble struck two days later.
The son of Tribal Rule went for a swim on Friday, followed by a canter on Saturday, all routine stuff, but he came back sore after the last workout. Only Win was sent to the vet where tests revealed he had sustained a condylar fracture to his near-fore cannon bone – the same injury legendary sprinter Rocket Man had as a three-year-old but to his offside cannon bone.
It was a major blow to trainer Michael Clements and the owners, the Hwa Yi Stable, but Clements was still trying to put a positive spin to the setback.
“He was fine the day after his last trial but after his canter on Saturday, he came back sore,” said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
“As the bone was not displaced, he had two screws inserted to the affected area, while standing and with no full anaesthetic.
“Unfortunately, we’ll have to give the Moonbeam Vase a miss. It’s box-rest for three months before he can race again.
“It’s disappointing for all, but I believe everything happens for a reason. He’s been pushed along, and maybe it’s a blessing in disguise he gets a break now.
“As he is a Northern Hemisphere-bred, he has always been a bit behind the other four-year-olds. This time away will give him more time to strengthen up and mature.”
With Only Win out, Clements is left with only Song To The Moon in the Moonbeam Vase, but he doubts the planets have aligned for the Savabeel six-year-old in that race.
“It’s too short for Song To The Moon. We are running him just to keep him ticking over for the El Dorado Classic and the Gold Cup,” he said of the gelding who scored five of his six wins over distances between 1800m and 2000m.
The Group 3 El Dorado Classic used to be the traditional lead-up to the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup, when both events were run over 2200m and three weeks apart. The two races have now been shortened to 2000m, and they will be this year run almost two months apart (seven weeks) – with the El Dorado Classic run on September 23 and the Singapore Gold Cup on November 11.
Champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen takes the ride for the first time on Song To The Moon in the Moonbeam Vase.
