The resuming Knight Love gets his first start with a new trainer underway this Saturday, but Tan Kah Soon cautioned not to expect fireworks right away.

The US-bred four-year-old bled after his last start for trainer Michael Clements on July 18 when he beat two home in a Class 4 race (1400m). It was during the mandatory three-month suspension that Hong Kong owner Alan Leung Wai Zen also thought of a change of scenery for his two-time winner (1000m to 1200m).

Tan has given his new charge all the time needed to find his way back to race fitness before picking Saturday's $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1000m as his racing comeback.

To the former Godolphin-trained horseman, it was never a case of leading a horse to the water, but more the other way round.

"We don't need to do much work with him as he's light-framed horse. We didn't want to push any buttons with him," said the Malaysian trainer.

"After his bleed, he did the three months' ban and has slowly come back. He came out fine, passed his bleeder's test.

"He trialled well last week (October 19). He's got speed, Marc (Lerner) didn't have to do much until the last furlong, he's a clean-winded horse.

"I looked at the programme and thought that 1000m race was a good place to start him out. It gives him the opportunity for a second run before the end of the season.

"We have two options, either on November 20 or November 27. It'll then be three weeks or four weeks away, which either way, works out well for him.

"It's a pretty strong race, but I leave it to Marc to work out how to ride him. Marc's very happy with him, especially after his gallop on Tuesday.

"He's settled in very well and goes into Saturday's race fresh. We need to get this run into him first."

Showing an abundance of gate speed at his sizzling all-the-way debut win last year, Knight Love  has been ridden quieter of late. He will this Saturday break from a middle barrier (six) and will sport a shadow roll for the first time.

"He's got a high head carriage and pulls a bit in the morning," said Tan.

"He galloped fine with the shadow roll, and the boys were happy with the way he ran with it as well. We'll see how he races with it tomorrow."

Tan is happy to get the opportunity to again work for an owner he first got to know during his time as B-trainer to British ex-Kranji trainer David Hill.

"Alan had one horse with David when I was assistant-trainer there – Knight Harlook," said the son of former Penang trainer Dr Tan Swee Hock.

"We know each other well, and it's great to train another horse for him."

With five meetings left and only eight winners on the board for 2021, Tan is not expecting too much other than hopefully add a couple more sticks – he also saddles three of his eight winners, Gold Kingdom, Clarton Treasure and Zygarde, who also contests the same race as Knight Love - to a season which more or less mirrors his performance (seven winners) from the first pandemic-stricken season of 2020.

Still with existing owners doing their bit part and new ones like Leung coming on board, he is grateful for small mercies.

"It's been a tough year, but I've got one new horse in quarantine and another new one on the way," he said.

"It may not be much, but they all add up, don't they? The staff will also be happy to see new horses coming in, it's something they can look forward to."

One big race that Tan could have been looking forward to is the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) in two weeks' time on November 14, but he'll be watching from the stands as he had to pull the pin on his Gold Cup horse Gold Strike.

"Gold Strike has a few leg issues. I discussed with the owner (Gold Stable), and as you know, they are very knowledgeable, and we decided to call it quits for the Gold Cup this year," said Tan.

"We'll bring him back next year, but I have to say I was disappointed with his last run behind Lim's Lightning (1400m on August 22).

"At his previous run (1800m) on Derby day, he had a perfect race, but didn't let down, even if he finished only around four lengths off the winner (Elite Incredible)."

An Irish-bred six-year-old by Iffraaj, Gold Strike ran a cracking second to Mr Clint in the 2019 Singapore Gold Cup, giving the Yong family and trainer Cliff Brown great hope he could go one better the next year, but he could only run a moderate seventh to Big Hearted.

He was then moved to Tan after Brown returned to Australia this year, but the gold trail was just not meant to be this year.