Mini 'Guineas' as Raffles Cup guide for Clements trio
They have obviously turned one year older now, but it would still be intriguing to see who comes up trumps this time – unless, of course, one of their nine rivals steal their thunder.
On June Tiger Roar took the first round in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m), and one month later in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on July the double looked a moral as the son of Wandjina came powering home with his trademark electric turn of foot, but Starlight (x Headwater) staved him off by a head. Stablemate Prosperous Return (x Fighting Sun) didn't finish far behind in either race – second and fourth respectively.
Unfortunately, there was to be no decider as it's often been the case in the ultimate Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m). A collateral damage of the pandemic, the classic (along with some other feature races) was called off, effectively bringing about the non-running of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge this year.
Sunday's mile contest could be a late post scriptum to loop the loop, but Clements, however, has moved just treating it primarily as a lead-up to other riches, namely the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) in a month's time.
Clements, who already has big-race heavyweights Big Hearted and Top Knight in the top drawer, will then take it race-by-race through the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on October 10 and the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 14.
"It's a prep run for the Raffles Cup for all three," said the Zimbabwean-born Singapore champion trainer.
"Tiger Roar (78) and Starlight (74) have sufficient ratings to get a start, but Prosperous Return (69) needs to win this race to get in.
"They have all pulled up well and come back nicely since the Classic."
On form and ratings, the Clements team may well trifecta the market given the opposition is not overly strong though they should respect class-dropper Passport To Rome and the consistent Wind Trail.
Among the three, Tiger Roar will probably have a slight edge by virtue of his overall form, but the distance as well.
"Tiger Roar is best suited by the 1 m, but from all indications, I think it should be no problem for Starlight as well," said Clements.
"Prosperous Return has bounced back nicely and is also better suited by 1 m. Ideally he likes a bit of give in the rain, just like Tiger Roar, and I think Starlight handles a wet track okay as well.
"I know Vlad (Duric) said Prosperous Return didn't feel comfortable at his last start, but it was more like surface water on the track, or else he acts on rain-affected ground."
Clements has kept the threesome ticking over since the Classic, leaving their training routine unchanged, just like the riding combinations.
"All three jockeys rode them well, so I was happy to keep them and moving forward to the Raffles Cup, they will remain as the likely riders," he said.
Besides Duric on Prosperous Return, Simon Kok Wei Hoong and Shafrizal Saleh stick to Tiger Roar and Starlight respectively. Barrier-wise, the first two were luckier as they will jump side-by-side in the inner one and two respectively while Tiger Roar will break from barrier which is immaterial as he gets back.
