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After going winless at his first eight starts, Totality made it back-to-back wins when successful in the $65,000 Novice Stakes over 1400m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Totality broke his maiden status three weeks previously when scoring by ten-and-three-quarter lengths and was just as impressive when rising in grade on Sunday.
Providing leading rider Joao Moreira with the third leg of a winning treble, Totality scored by two-and-a-half lengths over Boundless Glory (Oscar Chavez) with Marathon Lad (Tengku Rehaizat) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Trainer Michael Clements said Totality had been a slow-maturing horse and was still learning what racing was all about.
“It was always a question of maturity with him,” said Clements.
“He had always been very keen in his races and not finishing them off. He's still a bit keen early but he's finishing them off now.
“He has learnt how to settle a bit and conserve some energy and that has finally showed through with how he is finishing off.
“I think Joao has helped him but he has got on him at the right time also as the horse has strengthened up a bit and matured.”
Clements said he would look at the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge with Totality, especially the second and the thirds of the series – the Group 2 $350,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) and the Group 1 $500,000 Singapore Guineas (1600m) with the gelding.
“I don't know whether we will look at the 1200m leg with him but the second and third legs are something that we will seriously have to consider,” said Clements.
“He is improving all the time and I think the longer races of the series will suit him.”
Moreira, who now has 46 winners to his credit for the year, has been aboard Totality in his last two wins and believes there is a good race in the gelding in the future.
“He's still a bit green and I believe that he will continue to improve,” said Moreira.
“He wanted to over-race early in the race and ideally we wanted to get some cover today, but from that barrier we weren't able to do so.
“If he continues to improve like I think he can then at some stage I think he is capable of winning a cup race.
“Michael has done a very good job with this horse and deserves all the credit.”
A three-year-old by Danroad from the Last Tycoon mare Brindillemousse, Totality now has the record of two wins and four second placings from nine visits to the racetrack and has accumulated around $125,000 in prizemoney for the Classican Stable.