Eclair Surprise has the Singapore International Cup in his sights after posting a third straight win at Sandown on Saturday.
The five-year-old was guided to victory in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) by Dom Tourneur, who eased him across the line 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Tai Tai Tess.
Eclair Supprise winning the Snowhite Maintenance Stakes at Sandown - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
Going into the final feature meeting of the Melbourne spring carnival, Eclair Surprise had won two Listed races – the Murray Bridge Gold Cup and the Diamond Jubilee Plate at Flemington.
Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes said the Hong Kong-owned horse would be spelled before being prepared for his main target in Singapore over 2000 metres next May.
“The horse is in super order,” Stokes said. “We took him home after he raced on Tuesday and it turned out to be the right decision.
“He’ll go straight to the paddock now and we’ll try and get him to the Singapore Cup. That’s our goal in May.”
Stokes said Saturday’s win would make a Singapore bid much easier.
“This will help him a lot and get his rating up … he’s going in the right direction,” he said.
Stokes said he was confident of clinching a start in the Singapore race and that the horse would be competitive.
“I think the 2000 metres will be ideal,” he said. “He travels very well so that won’t be a problem.”
Eclair Surprise will run in Adelaide and again in Melbourne in the lead-up to his May target.
