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Vlad Duric holds last-start winner Chariots Of Fire in high esteem even if he is aware that the penny has not fully dropped yet.
The Australian jockey rated the Showcasing three-year-old to a tee at his last start when they were able to shed his maiden tag, even if at one point, he looked like he would get overhauled close home.
Racing for the fourth time at Kranji and punted down to even-money favouritism in the Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on October 23, Chariots Of Fire showed great resilience to cling on to his lead and hold Draco at bay by half-a-length.
Duric took the Bruce Marsh-trained gelding for a spin in a barrier trial on Thursday and jumped off with a bullish report, a little over a week ahead of his next run in a Novice race over 1200m on turf next Friday.
“He trialled really good today. Every time, he’s gone to the races, he’s kept improving,” said Duric.
“He couldn’t quite settle early on but he has been very good at his last two starts. He has progressed really well, and the way he trialled very relaxed today goes to show how he’s come along.
“That Novice race next week will suit him down to the ground. He’s got a nice chance with a light weight.”
Marsh also drew plenty of positives from the New Zealand-owned galloper’s barrier trial, especially when using Patrick Shaw’s impressive winner as a “reference”.
“That Terms Of Reference is a very good horse as I know he’s run in pretty handy company and has done well,” said the Kiwi trainer.
“He was just too good but I think my horse did a good job to stick on, only around two lengths behind him.
“We put a shadow roll on him today and that helped him relax better. He was not quite mature at his first few runs, but he’s done really well since.”
Except for Cote De Nuits who dumped Manoel Nunes at the start, the rest of the seven runners jumped on terms with Chariots Of Fire popping into a handy spot in third behind the leading pair of Rainbow Nation (Corey Brown) and Iconnic (Saifudin Ismail) before ambling past them in the straight.
Terms Of Reference (Barend Vorster), however, finished better on the outside, as he went clear at the 150m to beat Chariots Of Fire by 2 ¼ lengths.