Wednesday, 12 September 2018: Nobody gave $346 rank-outsider Claudia’s Beauty a chance in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m), but though she didn’t win, her flying sixth did take a few by surprise.

The winner Jupiter Gold and the next three home - Elite Invincible, Lim’s Magic and Only Win – were a cut above, but a gap of another four lengths away, a cheeky Claudia’s Beauty was only a neck behind fifth-placed Countofmontecristo.



Trainer Leslie Khoo for one saw another window of opportunity open up after that run – the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) further down the road on November 11.


Not seen since her Singapore Derby run on July 15, the five-year-old mare by Daliapour will make her racing comeback in Friday’s $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over the mile.



The opposition is easier this time, but Khoo, who has yet to break his duck in a feature race in 11 years of training on his home soil, is not getting too ahead of himself.



“I was very happy with her run in the Derby. She ran better than expected, she only warmed up late,” said the Singaporean handler who did win one Singapore Derby as a jockey, Grand Illusion for champion trainer Ivan Allan in 1988.



“She needs even longer than the 1800m. The Gold Cup might be a possible target for her, but she also needs to earn more points to her ratings to qualify.



“That’s why the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series of which the Gold Cup is the third and final Leg) and (Group 1) QEII Cup (Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the second Leg over 1800m) are out for her as she did not have enough points to qualify.



“She has come along well after the break, and we’ll see how she goes first-up in that Kranji Stakes C race over the mile.”



Khoo has booked in-form jockey Glen Boss on the Lucky Stable-owned galloper for her comeback race. Prior to her two stabs at the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge – she also ran in the second Leg, the Group 1 Giovanni Racing Charity Cup (1600m) won by Elite Invincible, beating one home – she won a Class 3 race over the mile when ridden by Boss.



“Glen knows her well, and we’re hoping for a good run on Friday,” said Khoo.



“If she eventually makes it for the Gold Cup, she will probably get in at a low handicap. We will then have to see which lightweight jockey is available then.”



Some of the rivals Claudia's Beauty  will have to contend with are last-start winner Key Success, Lord Of Cloud and the vastly-improved Letitgo.