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This time last year, trainer Michael Clements had won the first two Legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge with Alibi, stumbled in the last Leg, the Emirates Singapore Derby, but it was still a great rush.
No such highs this year, even if early form students predicted the Zimbabwean-born handler was odds-on to keep his mantle, looking at the depth in his four-year-old ranks – Tannhauser, Chopin’s Fantaisie, Countofmontecristo and Only Win.
The quartet was halved after only one Leg. The first casualty was Chopin’s Fantaisie after he bled and was suspended in a lead-up race he won, never getting a chance of a run. Tannhauser did not stay the 1400m of the first Leg, the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup, as feared, and has since dropped out.
Clements was left with Countofmontecristo and Only Win to salvage some pride, with the former still the undisputed flagbearer, but two fifths from the Singapore Champion Three-Year-Old in the first two Legs were results that fell below expectations.
A seven-time winner (three at Group level) who last scored back in September last year, Countofmontecristo was looking all set for a promising four-year-old campaign with two seconds in the first two Legs of the Singapore Sprint Series, but the son of Echoes Of Heaven has not risen to the occasion thus far this year.
Ridden by Ryan Curatolo, his seventh jockey in the last nine months since his Glen Boss days, Countofmontecristo was ridden out to hold a forward position in the Group 1 Charity Bowl (1600m) on Sunday, but the first signals of distress appeared when he lugged in under pressure as Curatolo pressed him forward in the straight. When eventual winner Elite Invincible shot past, he was incapable of finding another gear.
It was actually Only Win, the one regarded as the wild card of Clements’ Fantastic Four who has in the end done the best – and may well take over as the stable banner in the $1.15 Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 15.
The American-bred by Tribal Rule came from near last in the Charity Bowl to run a meritorious fourth, giving every indication the extra furlong will be even more up his alley in the Derby, even if he has yet to venture beyond the mile in 12 starts.
Clements was a little disappointed with the way the 4YO campaign has rolled but neither has it gone pear-shaped, he said.
“They ran okay on Sunday,” was his summary of his two horses in the Charity Bowl.
“Countofmontecristo came back with a bit of a bruised hoof, but it’s a straightforward issue and we took care of it.
“I think the two good runs he had early in the year took something out of him. He got stuck into it and has not been running as well as we hoped since.
“We may have to ride him differently in the Derby, maybe less positive. Just drop him back and let him come home.
“Alan (Munro) said Only Win was very lethargic in the running, but he ran on quite well. He’s pulled up well after the run and will press on to the Derby, too.”
Clements said he tried to keep Curatolo on Countofmontecristo, but the French jockey had already made prior commitments.
“We wanted to put Ryan back on, but I think he’s riding another horse in the Derby,” said Clements.
“At this stage, we haven’t decided on a name yet, but I’m sure we’ll find a jockey in due course.”
Curatolo will be riding Lim’s Regard, a horse he steered to an incredible all-the-way win when they caught their rivals napping in a Kranji Stakes B race over 2000m on March 30.
They have not teamed up again since, but Curatolo had already given the nod to trainer Mark Walker to ride the son of Red Giant in the Derby. He ran in the Charity Bowl as well, with jockey Nooresh Juglall riding him forward, but he compounded badly to finish ninth.
John Powell will in the meantime warm the saddle when Lim’s Regard returns on a quick back-up in Sunday’s $100,000 Class 2 race over 1800m. Curatolo is on Dee Dee D’Or for Mohd Yusof.
“I was offered to ride the Count back, but I did promise Mr Lim (Siah Mong) and Mark Walker I would ride Lim’s Regard in the Derby,” said Curatolo.
“I do appreciate that Mr Giovanni is giving me his horse (Countofmontecristo) again as well as Mr Clements for their confidence in me, but I must honour my word.
“I promised Mr Lim I would honour his silks in the Derby. Count finished ahead of Lim’s Regard in the Charity Bowl, but that’s the way it is, I don’t go back on my word.
“It’s a difficult situation when you have to keep everyone happy when choosing rides. We are all trying our very best and I hope everyone understands.
“In saying this, I like Lim’s Regard. He is a free galloper, he may not have run too well in the Charity Bowl, but I hope he brings back that winning form when I won on him.”
Meanwhile, Clements will be attempting to bring Tannhauser back on track in an easier contest, Friday night’s $100,000 Class 2 race over 1200m. The son of Tavistock last ran in the first Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) beating two home.
“The 1400m is not his go, but that is not to say he won’t get it one day. It’s too early for this kind of trip now,” said Clements.
“He’s in good shape and Ryan will ride him this time.”
Regular partner Vlad Duric jumped off Tannhauser to partner Elite Invincible in the Stewards’ Cup. Daniel Moor rode Tannhauser then, but will be riding Spanish Bay in the Class 2 event while Duric is serving a two-day suspension for careless riding this weekend.