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Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup winner Better Life took a step closer to making a return to the racetrack with a barrier trial on Thursday morning.

Having not raced since winning the Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m last November, Better Life was having her first serious piece of work in preparation for her return.

The daughter of Smarty Jones finished sixth in the 1000m trial taken out by Super Kenny.

Better Life was a little slow to begin and Munro was niggling at her before the turn. She ran to the line fairly finishing just behind the placegetters in a hit-out that will improve her fitness wise.

Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka and jockey Alan Munro said the hit-out was satisfactory without being spectacular.

Having originally been set for a return to racing in a $125,000 Open Handicap over 1400m on March 31, the mare is now set to resume in the Group 3 $200,000 Moonbeam Vase over 1800m a week later.

“She’s still a bit heavy,” said Takaoka following Thursday trial. “And the 1000m is way too short for her.

“We just wanted to give her a nice easy trial and get her to work home. She seemed to do that OK.

“I think the Moonbeam Vase is a better option for her to start off in. She will be better handicapped and she is a stayer.

“The extra week will be good for her. We can give her a couple of nice gallops before the race as well.”

Munro, who has ridden the mare in all bar one of her 10 starts, including the Singapore Gold Cup victory, said the mare would benefit from the extra week of work.

“The 1400m will be too sharp for her anyway and one more week will do her the world of good,” said Munro.

“She seemed to be sleeping all the way in that trial today, but she wasn’t blowing after it which is a good sign.

“That was her first serious piece of work for the year. The trial wasn’t anything special and she certainly wasn’t switched on for it.

“That will bring her on quite a bit.”

Better Life has been taken along quietly by Takaoka. The mare, who made a winning debut on October 14, 2011, graduated to being a Group 1 winner of the Kranji Mile 51 weeks after that debut performance and on the way to her Singapore Gold Cup success.

Takaoka is aiming Better Life towards the International Group 1 $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m on May 19 and later at the Group 1 $1.15 million Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m in July.

In all Better Life has recorded six victories and two second placings from her 10 starts for a little more than $1.2 million in prizemoney for owners Suzuka Racing.