Michael Clements was content with his choice when he was three years old in The Crunge, but this year it wasn’t.
This Saturday, he saddles a lone runner in Alcantour’s $ 110,000 Group 3 Singapore 3-Year-Old Sprint (1,200m). And he isn’t even a favorite.
Last year, Clements won both the 3YO race, Sprint and Group 2 Singapore’s three-year-old classic (1,400m) with Tiger Lore and Starlight, respectively.
In addition to Tiger Roar (2021), Countofmontecristo (2017) and Top Knight (2019) are also 3YO champions. This is the depth of Clements’ garden, and even those who missed it have become top liners like Big Heart and Siam Blue Banda.
In stark contrast, there was no early talk of 3YO from a master trainer born in Zimbabwe this year. It wasn’t even a silent is gold late bloomer.
But at a glance at his barn, you can see that he has nine 3-year-old children. Two haven’t raced yet, but none of the remaining seven have actually set up pulse races.
Alqantur, perhaps the closest to the bill early 2 to 2, erased the copybook when he was often beaten in the last race.
The Argentine mare Istataba is the next best thing, but her latest run is still lacking.
The Mariana Trench has expressed hope and the Tivic Stable hype has helped, but has been pleased to deceive ever since.
Star Victory made his second courageous debut last Saturday after Major King and took part in the sprint, but Vancouver’s son stays in his box.
“In his first race, he wasn’t a sprinter, he was at one pace. We’re still in him, but he’s a more second-legged horse,” Clements said.
The 2020 Singapore Champion Trainer clearly doesn’t just make up for the number of kicks.
But he certainly misses the day when he can enter the extravagant arsenal of picking and choosing bullets.
“There has been a slowdown due to Covid-19 in the last two years,” he explained of the sudden shortage of 3-year-olds.
“The last batch of 3-year-old horses was purchased as yearlings in 2019. We missed the breeze sales of 2020 and last year, but with much less client support.
“But when I went to the Magic Million’s Year Ring Sale on the Gold Coast, I bought an All-to-Hard Colt for A $ 100,000. I’m also going to the breeze in October.
“It’s more likely that you’ll be three years old from a larger location. You’ll need to get it back in 2025.”
Until then, in a race claimed by many as two horse races between Stephen Gray’s Silent Is Gold and Tim Fitz Simmons’ Golden Monkey, all eggs are in one alkane tour basket.
Clements doesn’t mind flying under the radar, but he certainly hasn’t lost sight of the work in front of him.
“The first few runs of Alcantur were really good, but on the first run from the break he slowly exited the gate,” Clements said.
“He leaned beside the gate. He did it before, but he tended to do it more that day.
“Things didn’t go as planned, but I still believe he ran fairly. He’s been here since its execution and he pleased us in his trial.
“From the break, I wanted to hit him before this race, but I had no other choice.
“Anyway, he’s bright and he’s back in good shape after his first run.”
The son, owned by Starturn’s Arlacid Stable, was tried last week. After matching the motor with the Golden Monkey, he finished second in race rider Mano Ernunez.
Alcantur got over it harder than the Golden Monkey, but Clements is indifferent.
“He hasn’t done well in Poly. His trackwork is pretty normal, but the shape of the turf is so much better that he gets it on race day,” he said. ..
“He’s drawn well by three people. The gate speed is fast, so it’s definitely better to pull low.”
