The Michael Clements-Jubilant Racing team seems to have unearthed another promising sort in Friday debut winner Chopin's Fantaisie.
While their exciting three-year-old Tannhauser has captured the imagination of Kranji racegoers with his two recent dominant wins, even drawing flattering comparisons with the great Spalato, that new well-bred find by Pins has certainly served notice of some ability as well.
Granted Chopin's Fantaisie ($14 favourite) did not obliterate his rivals in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m the way his stablemate does, but there was still a touch of class about the three-year-old's determined will to get to the line first.
After enjoying a ground-saving run on the rails from barrier No 1, Chopin's Fantaisie was angled out for his run at the 500m to swing off the home turn with Tan Hor Khoon's first-starter Crazy Dreams (Saifudin Ismail) as the horse to run down.
With jockey Vlad Duric wielding the persuader to good effect, Chopin's Fantaisie gradually wore Crazy Dreams down. Newcomer and $181 longshot Webster (Manoel Nunes) did loom as a late threat as he shot through on the inside, but Chopin's Fantaisie held a three-quarter length buffer at the wire.
Crazy Dreams did well to hang on for third place another 2 ΒΌ lengths away, thus making it a podium of three beginners. The winning time was 1min 4.74secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Clements said Chopin's Fantaisie has a commanding presence about him, but he did not land in his yard without certain issues either.
"He showed a lot of ability from Day 1 even if he was still immature. We knew he was capable but there is always a query how he will go at his first race," said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
"He will improve from that run. The owner (Joshua Tan) was keen on him as a yearling, but there was not much interest in him at the sale.
"Physically and mentally, he was still immature and had a few setbacks in New Zealand. Anyway, we knew he would need a bit of time before the penny drops."
Clements praised Duric's handling, saying it went a long way in steering his new charge home on debut.
"Vlad rode a perfect race. There was a bit of speed early on, but he gave him a bit of a breather midrace," he said.
"He made up ground and kicked on beautifully."
Duric, who missed last Monday's Labour Day meeting through an ankle twist sustained after Mr Clooney broke down last Sunday, was glad to be quickly back in the winner's enclosure.
"It's always frustrating when you miss a meeting and see a few of your rides go on and win," said the current leading jockey.
"Anyway, that's racing and it's good to be back a winner straightaway.
"This is a lovely horse, even if my only worry was the Polytrack, but he handled it very well.
"He drew the inside run and I had to perform a nifty manoeuvre to come out. With the momentum, I wanted to keep him going even if he was still very new.
"He's still a raw bugger and a lot of improvement will come out of that first run. He wants a mile, and he will develop into a nice horse no doubt." -STC
While their exciting three-year-old Tannhauser has captured the imagination of Kranji racegoers with his two recent dominant wins, even drawing flattering comparisons with the great Spalato, that new well-bred find by Pins has certainly served notice of some ability as well.
Granted Chopin's Fantaisie ($14 favourite) did not obliterate his rivals in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m the way his stablemate does, but there was still a touch of class about the three-year-old's determined will to get to the line first.
After enjoying a ground-saving run on the rails from barrier No 1, Chopin's Fantaisie was angled out for his run at the 500m to swing off the home turn with Tan Hor Khoon's first-starter Crazy Dreams (Saifudin Ismail) as the horse to run down.
With jockey Vlad Duric wielding the persuader to good effect, Chopin's Fantaisie gradually wore Crazy Dreams down. Newcomer and $181 longshot Webster (Manoel Nunes) did loom as a late threat as he shot through on the inside, but Chopin's Fantaisie held a three-quarter length buffer at the wire.
Crazy Dreams did well to hang on for third place another 2 ΒΌ lengths away, thus making it a podium of three beginners. The winning time was 1min 4.74secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Clements said Chopin's Fantaisie has a commanding presence about him, but he did not land in his yard without certain issues either.
"He showed a lot of ability from Day 1 even if he was still immature. We knew he was capable but there is always a query how he will go at his first race," said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
"He will improve from that run. The owner (Joshua Tan) was keen on him as a yearling, but there was not much interest in him at the sale.
"Physically and mentally, he was still immature and had a few setbacks in New Zealand. Anyway, we knew he would need a bit of time before the penny drops."
Clements praised Duric's handling, saying it went a long way in steering his new charge home on debut.
"Vlad rode a perfect race. There was a bit of speed early on, but he gave him a bit of a breather midrace," he said.
"He made up ground and kicked on beautifully."
Duric, who missed last Monday's Labour Day meeting through an ankle twist sustained after Mr Clooney broke down last Sunday, was glad to be quickly back in the winner's enclosure.
"It's always frustrating when you miss a meeting and see a few of your rides go on and win," said the current leading jockey.
"Anyway, that's racing and it's good to be back a winner straightaway.
"This is a lovely horse, even if my only worry was the Polytrack, but he handled it very well.
"He drew the inside run and I had to perform a nifty manoeuvre to come out. With the momentum, I wanted to keep him going even if he was still very new.
"He's still a raw bugger and a lot of improvement will come out of that first run. He wants a mile, and he will develop into a nice horse no doubt." -STC