Singapore champion trainer Michael Clements said it was “all systems go” for Tiger Roar making it a “clean sweep” of the only two four-year-old feature races up for grabs this season.
The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge is struck off the racing calendar this year given the traditional last Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) is a "non-runner" for the first time since its inception.
After landing the 1200m Leg, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint on June 27 for his fifth success in only nine starts, Tiger Roar is expected to further relish the extra 200m of the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic this Sunday.
A two-from-two feat would not quite resonate the same way as a Triple Crown (last to pull it off was War Affair in 2014) would, but it would certainly anoint the son of Wandjina as the undisputed king of three-year-olds this season, with Clements tipping he may even go on and eclipse the last two title holders in his yard, Countofmontecristo (2017) and Top Knight (2019).
"I've said before he had better potential than Countofmontecristo, and I think he could be as good as – if not, probably, have more potential than Top Knight," he said.
"Tiger Roar has done a bit more than them on his record sheet, and on what he's shown us so far.
"He's pulled up great after the first Leg and will be better suited with the extra distance. He has come on well since the run in the Sprint, it's all systems go for a second win.
"If the current bad weather stays on until Sunday, it'll suit him the most as he's proven on a wet track."
Clements, who saddled five runners in the Sprint, has this time round dropped Tuesday (better over shorter trips, plus he was a bit jaded) and Ablest Ascend (more of a Polytrack sprinter) going into Sunday's second test, but the unbeaten (two-from-two) Starharmony joins the squad as the new recruit.
Yet again, it's quantity to the fore for the Zimbabwean-born handler, but quality as well.
"(Sprint runner-up) Prosperous Return (three-time Tivic Stable winner by Fighting Sun) is the next best. He had a break prior to the first Leg and he now has a run under the belt, and the 1400m is more within his comfort zone," he said.
"He has pulled up good and has come well off the last run. He has actually come on a lot.
"He's been working well and can finish in the money. It's difficult to separate him from Tiger Roar.
"Starlight will also appreciate the extra distance. He also came off a break and has benefitted from the first run.
"As for Starharmony, it's a big step-up at level weights against his own age group, but he's done nothing wrong in two starts.
"He has stepped up to the mark and is heading in the right direction. He's a young horse who did everything we've asked him to do.
"Of course, he faces a hard task, but the way he is heading, he is quite capable of surprising us and finishing in the placings.
"On pedigree (x Real Impact), he should be suited to the mile and above."
Clements has decided to go for the status quo amongst the riding roster for his Classic foursome, even if there was an opportunity to reshuffle between the two PSM Racing Stable-owned gallopers Starlight (x Headwater) and Starharmony. Winning partner Simon Kok Wei Hoong and Vlad Duric stay on Tiger Roar and Prosperous Return respectively.
"It was a team call to put Louis-Phillipe Beuzelin on Starharmony instead of Starlight," said Clements.
"Louis was suspended in the first Leg and couldn't take the ride on Starlight, but we didn't want to take Shafrizal Saleh off Starlight, as he's done nothing wrong on him. Starharmony is also a horse Louis has been riding and was the one aboard at his two wins."
