Trainer Michael Clements was not around when Countofmontecristo put his rivals to the sword on debut, but going with what he later saw on the TV replay as well as the way he has trained on since, he knows he has a pretty smart horse under his care.
Whether he will double up second-up in Friday's $75,000 Novice race over 1200m remains to be seen, but the Zimbabwean-born trainer can't see why the Echoes Of Heaven three-year-old won't run well again.
Ridden by Mohd Zaki in that Restricted Maiden race (1200m) he first contested on January 13, Countofmontecristo stormed to the lead and was never really threatened before he pulled away to a 3 ½-length win.
He will obviously meet with stiffer opposition at his next assignment, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. You are only as good as the last win.
"I was at the Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast when he won but I have to say he won pretty impressively," said Clements.
"We knew he had ability when he came to us and he also ran some nice trials back in New Zealand. He has come through that first race very well.
"He beat Siam Gemstone quite easily on that day, and that horse just won a nice race last Sunday."
Going one step further along formlines that stack up to his potential, the horse Countofmontecristo beat at his winning barrier trial was River Gold – who also got off the mark on Sunday.
Clements was also encouraged by the way the Joe Singh-owned New Zealand-bred, who races in the famous colours carried by former champion three-year-old Gingerbread Man, has made further headway.
"The horse has improved further from the first run, especially from his last gallop going into the race," said Clements.
"No doubt, he will this time come against winners, unlike at his first race, which is a big step-up but I think he'll be up to it."
While Zaki's ride on Countofmontecristo could not be faulted at his first start, he was at the end of the day only warming the saddle for someone else.
"Glen Boss rode him at his barrier trial but he was suspended on the day he had his first run," said Clements.
"Zaki did a good job on him, but Glen is back in the saddle this time, and that's only fair.
"The horse has improved on his fitness and the only way to see how good he really is is to take him through his grades."
Named after a vengeful nobleman from The Three Musketeers' author Alexandre Dumas, Countofmontecristo will cross swords against several last-start winners like himself in Friday's event, namely Brilliant One, Draco, Sir Isaac, Aotearoa and Forever Young, not to mention other handy novices like Maximus, Paperback Trooper and Haytham. -STC
Whether he will double up second-up in Friday's $75,000 Novice race over 1200m remains to be seen, but the Zimbabwean-born trainer can't see why the Echoes Of Heaven three-year-old won't run well again.
Ridden by Mohd Zaki in that Restricted Maiden race (1200m) he first contested on January 13, Countofmontecristo stormed to the lead and was never really threatened before he pulled away to a 3 ½-length win.
He will obviously meet with stiffer opposition at his next assignment, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. You are only as good as the last win.
"I was at the Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast when he won but I have to say he won pretty impressively," said Clements.
"We knew he had ability when he came to us and he also ran some nice trials back in New Zealand. He has come through that first race very well.
"He beat Siam Gemstone quite easily on that day, and that horse just won a nice race last Sunday."
Going one step further along formlines that stack up to his potential, the horse Countofmontecristo beat at his winning barrier trial was River Gold – who also got off the mark on Sunday.
Clements was also encouraged by the way the Joe Singh-owned New Zealand-bred, who races in the famous colours carried by former champion three-year-old Gingerbread Man, has made further headway.
"The horse has improved further from the first run, especially from his last gallop going into the race," said Clements.
"No doubt, he will this time come against winners, unlike at his first race, which is a big step-up but I think he'll be up to it."
While Zaki's ride on Countofmontecristo could not be faulted at his first start, he was at the end of the day only warming the saddle for someone else.
"Glen Boss rode him at his barrier trial but he was suspended on the day he had his first run," said Clements.
"Zaki did a good job on him, but Glen is back in the saddle this time, and that's only fair.
"The horse has improved on his fitness and the only way to see how good he really is is to take him through his grades."
Named after a vengeful nobleman from The Three Musketeers' author Alexandre Dumas, Countofmontecristo will cross swords against several last-start winners like himself in Friday's event, namely Brilliant One, Draco, Sir Isaac, Aotearoa and Forever Young, not to mention other handy novices like Maximus, Paperback Trooper and Haytham. -STC