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Trainer Shane Baertschiger is bemused at the lack of respect being shown Simple Pleasures in the lead-up to the Group 2 $350,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on Sunday.

While admitting the top two rated gallopers in the second Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge – Stepitup and Super Ninetyseven – certainly look the testing material, he believes his O’Reilly gelding is being dismissed too readily.

Simple Pleasures goes into Sunday’s race second up and Baertschiger said he has no reason to believe the gelding will not run out a strong 1400m.

Resuming from a break of four months, Simple Pleasures, when ridden by Danny Beasley, finished second behind Stepitup in the first Leg of the Challenge – the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 31 – beaten a short-head.

On Sunday Baertschiger points to the return of John Powell to the saddle and the freshness taken from the gelding as two important ingredients in a bid to return to the winner’s circle.

Powell rode stablemate Klever Man in the first Leg, finishing down the track in ninth place.

“I said to Johnny before his first-up run that I thought he had made the wrong choice,” said Baertschiger.

“First-up he over-raced a bit when the other horse (Ronnie Brown) got to the front and then he was left in front straightening up on the long course and was left a sitting duck.

“It was only in the last few strides that he was caught by the winner and he’s going to be much fitter with the run under his belt.

“I don’t think he’ll have any troubles running out the 1400m journey. He’s an O’Reilly and they can get over further.

“He’s had two gallops since that run and his work on Tuesday was really strong. He’s trained on well and I think he’s in really good order.”

Baertschiger said he would like to see how Simple Pleasures performs on Sunday before committing to a start in the Group 1 $500,000 Singapore Guineas over 1600m on May 17.

“I want to see how he runs on Sunday and how he pulls-up from the race before deciding on the Guineas,” said Baertschiger.

“Obviously it is an option for him but at the same time it will be a difficult task taking on good quality three-year-olds over 1600m third-up from a spell.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the horse but let’s get over Sunday’s race first.”

To date Simple Pleasures has won two of his four starts and been placed in the other two outings, accumulating almost $120,000 in prizemoney for Auric Stable.

While Simple Pleasures has progressed to the second Leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge, stablemate Klever Man has been freshened and will be brought back in class for his next outing.

“Things just haven’t gone right for him at his two starts this time in,” said Baertschiger.

“He pulled a front shoe off on the Polytrack first-up on a wet track and then last time on the turf he again struck a wet track – which he hates – and again pulled a front shoe.

“We’ve freshened him up and will bring him back for a Class 4 race in the next couple of weeks.”