3 minute read

Coin Toss might have missed a run in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) four weeks ago, but he still struck a late blow to claim the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Clements volunteered to scratch all his runners, including five in the first Leg of the Singapore 3YO Challenge series on April 8 after five morphine cases were found from his yard.

It was a tough time for the stable, but Coin Toss' win in the second Leg would have given Clements some redemption for what could have been.

The feature race looked a beauty on paper and while Clements' runner, Takanini was sent out as the $22 favourite, there were also five other horses well in the market, resulting in a wide-open affair as the runners headed to the 1400m start.

Pacific Hero  (Wong Chin Chuen) ensured a solid early pace after he crossed from gate 10 to lead with Cash Cove (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) – also from a wide alley (11) - keeping him company into the first bend.

Behind the leading pair, jockey Ronnie Stewart had Knippenberg – who jumped with good support to start the second favourite at $27 – perfectly positioned one-back on the rails, with Bestseller (Bernardo Pinheiro) also handy enough with cover to have every chance in running.

Further back, Daniel Moor had Coin Toss – who started at the each-way quote of $36 – in midfield on settling after copping some interference at the 1000m. 3YO Sprint winner January (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) was on his outside and looked like he could add the 3YO Classic's feather to his hat.

When things got serious on turning for home, the two pacesetters put up the white flag early with Knippenberg making his move from his stalking position and Bestseller also looming large at the 300m.

Bestseller kicked strongly for Pinheiro and looked the one to beat at the 250m but with a wall of horses – including Coin Toss – all making strong runs, it was anyone's race to win with a furlong to go.

But Coin Toss  – under hard riding from Moor – found another gear at the 150m to jump out of the chasing pack and had Bestseller's measure comfortably by the 100m.

The race was all over bar the shouting with Moor relaxing over the final 50m to win eased down by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Bestseller. Luxury Brand (Yusoff Fadzli), January and Pacific Warrior (Marc Lerner) were all fighting tooth and nail in a blanket go for the minors.

In the end, Luxury Brand  finished a neck away in third, nosing out January into fourth while Pacific Warrior ran another short head away in fifth. The winning time was 1 min 20.84secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

Clements always knew Coin Toss (x Flying Artie) was the pick of the yard – he said as much prior to the 3YO Sprint – but was ecstatic with how things eventually panned out a month later.

"He probably benefitted the most from the race being postponed, so we will take that as a little win," said the 2020 Singapore champion trainer who was at his fourth 3YO Classic win.

"After he missed the run in the 3YO Sprint, we had to send him out over 1400m (on April 16), which in hindsight, was a good thing.

"He ran about a bit under the whip on that occasion but his run behind Takanini was good and the extra week between that run and today was perfect for him. It's funny how things work, but you take what you can in this game.

"I think Daniel rode a great race.

"He's been a horse with a lot of potential all along and it was great for him to get it right on the day. A lot of his early racing was on the Polytrack, but that was by circumstance, not by choice.

"He did really well on the Polytrack but of course, breeding-wise and everything, we knew he was going to go on the turf and he put in a really good run at his last start.

"He's (Coin Toss) done a great job today."

Moor – who earlier rode his first winner, February in the Starlight 2021 Stakes, a $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1600m at his Singapore comeback this year (see earlier report) - was happy to bring his Australian good form back to Singapore.

"A few of my connections at home said 'why are you going to Singapore?'," he told racing presenter Pat Comerford after the race.

"The answers quite simple; I love it here. The only reason I ever left was because we went into Covid-19 and we were shut down (suspension of races and Circuit Breaker measures).

"I always toyed with the idea of coming back, especially when I'm riding horses like Coin Toss.

"Michael reached out to me several weeks ago to ride this horse in the 3YO series. I only had to look at one or two replays to know that he was the one.

"He's won really well today. We overcame a little bit of interference over the back there. He lost probably a length and a half or two lengths but for a young horse, he recovered well and won pretty soft in the finish."

Both trainer and jockey were also in praise of Coin Toss' owner – Kuldeep Singh Rajput of the Gandharvi Stable – who could have a big say in Singapore in the future.

"Absolutely, his (Kuldeep) first Group race in Singapore and well deserved," said Clements.

Moor concurred and added that Singapore racing needed owners like Kuldeep.

"Absolutely, the prizemoney is still good," said Moor who took out his third Group win in Singapore.

"The prizemoney (in Singapore) is fantastic. We just need to build the horse numbers with his support and people like him.

"He has a very professional operation with his bloodstock agents and racing managers, so if we can entice him and others to come, we are going to be stronger than ever. Fingers crossed."

Coin Toss' first Group win took his prizemoney to over $170,000 for the Gandharvi Stable.