Unbeaten four-year-old Chopin’s Fantaisie looked in impeccable order as he stepped out for an easy barrier trial on Tuesday.
The son of Pins was obviously not out to break any records under last-start winning partner Glen Boss, but certainly looked in mint condition ahead of his comeback in next week’s Class 3 race over 1400m.
Settling in fourth spot before being eased out, well away from the fence to the middle of the well-hosed Polytrack following the morning showers, Chopin's Fantaisie went on to finish fifth just over four lengths off the winner Supernova (Zyrul Nor Azman), with the engine under the bonnet still humming in second gear.
Trainer Michael Clements was pleased no end with the hit-out. He decided to tip Chopin’s Fantaisie out after his tougher than expected race at his fourth win when he had to dig deep to repel a stinging challenge from Laurie Laxon’s bonny mare Aotearoa.
Clements has already pencilled in more ambitious targets for the Jubilant Racing No 4 Stable-owned gelding, but is mindful not to cut any corners at this stage.
“He’s a pretty fit horse and we just wanted to keep him ticking over at today’s trial,” said the Zimbabwean-born handler.
“He came to Singapore pretty late and had a few setbacks, but he’s gone from strength to strength for the small amount of races he’s been put through.
“Whether it’s in his races or back home, his runs and gallops have been impressive all the time.
“The feedback I’ve always had from Vlad (Duric) was that he would get a bit more distance, and that’s why we’re looking at the Raffles Cup down the road.”
The Group 1 Raffles Cup over 1800m on October 22 is the second Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, but Clements knows that in order to get there, Chopin’s Fantaisie would have to come through at the next tests when the bar is raised.
“The aim is to run him in the Committee’s Prize which is a handicap race,” said Clements of the Group 3 race over 1600m on September 17.
“He needs to pick up a few rating points and I’m sure there’ll be a few low-rated horses like him that will also get into that.
“Depending on how he runs and how he pulls up, then we will set him for the Raffles Cup which is two weeks after the Committee’s Prize.”
With the Raffles Cup a weight-for-age race, the ride will then return to heavyweight jockey Duric – should he make the cut.
“Bossy is riding him for now, but after the Committee’s Prize, the ride will return to Vlad,” he said.
The current leading jockey once lost a plum ride because of his weight. He had to give up the winning ride on Lim’s Cruiser in the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) as he was carrying 52.5kg. Beasley was the lucky replacement rider, then stayed on at Lim’s Cruiser’s Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) victory, even if he carried 57.5kgs.
