Australian jockey Vlad Duric feels that Alibi has returned a better horse overall as he gears up towards his Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge campaign this Friday.
The Darci Brahma four-year-old was one of Duric's pet horses last year. He forged a formidable pairing with him, steering him to all his four wins.
The only two occasions Duric could not ride him, however, came in two feature races, the Saas Fee Stakes (1400m) and the EW Barker Trophy (1400m) because he could not make the weight.
Lightweight jockey Derreck David jumped on in the Saas Fee Stakes and they were narrowly beaten by Spanish Bay while trainer Michael Clements hired gun jockey Joao Moreira in the Barker, but they could only finish fifth to Lim's Cruiser.
Alibi has spelled since the Barker, which was held in November, and makes his comeback in Friday's $100,000 Open Benchmark 83 race over 1200m.
Duric has again been taking care of Alibi's prep this term, and was clearly champing at the bit at getting back on him in a race as he gave a rave report on his current condition.
"He's going really well. He had a nice break which is similar to what we do at home (Australia)," said the Caulfield Cup-winning rider.
"He's had more time to mature up. The break has really done him a lot of good."
That impression was better fleshed out at his two barrier trials, which were run two weeks apart. The first time, Duric just let him coast to the line in fifth to speed merchant The Nutcracker (Nooresh Juglall) while he slipped a bit more rein at the second one on March 21, which saw Alibi loop the field to go and defeat Senator (Manoel Nunes) with some authority.
"He's fresh and well and trialled very well at his two trials. He's improved a lot from them," said Duric.
"I'm confident he will run well this Friday, although he's drawn a tricky barrier (eight which is the widest). I'll have to discuss tactics with Mike, but he's a versatile horse who can be ridden up on the pace or drop back."
While Duric is banking on Alibi for a successful Singapore Four-Year-Old campaign that culminates with the Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 9, the gelding might even hand him another personal landmark achievement.
Sitting on top of the Singapore jockey's premiership on 19 winners, Duric is currently one winner shy of his 300th win milestone at Kranji. With a healthy book of 14 rides (seven apiece) this weekend, he stands a good chance of crossing that mark with anyone of them, be it Alibi or another.
