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Tannhauser heads a strong trio saddled by leading trainer Michael Clements in the $100,000 Class 2 race over 1200m on Sunday, but their conditioner is not ruling out an upset from the other two either – Only Win and Justice Day.
Of the two “second-stringers”, the US-bred Only Win has a few more upsides than his Irish-bred stablemate, having stamped himself as one of the most vastly-improved horses to have popped out of the woodwork this season.
The Tribal Rule four-year-old may not figure among the most fashionable names in the Zimbabwean-born conditioner’s yard, but with three consecutive wins racked up this year alone, he has certainly been one of the driving forces behind his massive haul of 24 winners.
Still a maiden after six runs last year, Only Win has literally exploded onto the scene when least expected this year.
So much so he has even sprung into Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge contention to join Clements’ star-studded team of Countofmontecristo and Tannhauser (Chopin’s Fantaisie was unfortunately ruled out after another bleeding attack) for the famed series which kicks off with the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) on June 10.
“Tannhauser will be the horse to beat, but the other two are also in good shape,” said Clements.
“Only Win had a bit of a break after his last run. He’s a horse who has come up by leaps and bounds.
“On his last run, he looked like a likely horse for the 4YO series over a bit of ground. He has come on a lot and has definitely trained on well since his last run.”
On his prep run on Sunday where he tackles a much meatier lot, including his own stablemate Tannhauser, Clements hopes his postage-stamp load of 50.5kgs combined with his solid form will put him in good stead for another forward run, but he conceded that a fourth win on the trot would be a different kettle of fish.
“Obviously, it’ll be a big ask for him to drop back to 1200m and run in Class 2,” he reasoned.
“When he won over 1200m, it was in maiden company. Then he went up to 1400m which he won and then he won over a mile in a Kranji Stakes C race.
“It won’t be an easy task against Tannhauser, who is in great form after a freshen-up. He loves the distance and is the horse to beat.
“But Only Win is a horse on the up and I’m sure he’ll run well.”
A seven-year-old Irish-bred by Acclamation, Justice Day won’t be going in as the “third wheel”, as his trainer knows only too well not to underestimate him, especially as he steps back over his preferred turf surface.
The Lucky Stable-owned galloper last raced together with stable companions Siam Sapphire and McGregor in a Class 2 race over 1200m on Polytrack on April 8, with Clements making him the third pick of his trifecta, but he eventually ran above expectations to finish fourth to favourite Siam Sapphire while McGregor ran ninth.
“He ran better than expected in the dirt last start. If the track is wet for him on Sunday, he will run a big race,” said Clements.
Justice Day will be ridden by Clements’ two-kilo claiming apprentice jockey Shafrizal Saleh and will as a result carry only 50kgs. Tannhauser will have regular partner Vlad Duric on board while Only Win will have his last-start winning partner Alan Munro back in the irons.