The withdrawal of the two top picks in Sunday’s $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m might have enhanced the winning chances of Metallocene but trainer Shane Baertschiger was still impressed with his ward’s superlative performance.

Conatus G, who was well in the market, was withdrawn earlier before new nominal favourite and impressive two-time trial winner My Gold had to be taken out at the gates.

The race was suddenly thrown wide open, but it was Metallocene, who was promoted to second $17 favouritism, who went on to stamp his authority in the reduced 10-strong field, coming off a cosy run in fifth on the rails to shoot clear to a 3 ¼-length win from Basilisk (Olivier Placais) with Gallant Eclipse (Vlad Duric) third another short head away. The winning time was 1min 11.24secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.



Metallocene (John Powell) makes short work of his rivals on Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club

Baertschiger said that the Darci Brahma three-year-old had largely benefitted from his debut in a similar event when he hung out at the top of the straight and still plodded on for a four-length fifth despite being very green for Matthew Kellady.

The wayward Tianzhou Stable-owned galloper still gave jockey John Powell a bit of a wrestling match in the home straight, but his gross raw ability luckily came to the fore in the end.

“He was very green at his first run. He was in an one-out one back position and he hung out when one horse carried him off the fence,” said Baertschiger.

“He was on the fence today and he couldn’t hang, but he’s still got a funny running action. But he won easily and was even eased out in the end.

“No doubt the favourites were taken out, but he still won well and I think he could have still won with them in the race. He’s a Darci Brahma and will get more ground.”

Powell jumped off with a big smile but said the pathway between Metallocene’s brains and his legs was still a bit out of whack even if there was definitely a nice engine in there.

“He’s a gangly horse who doesn’t want to be a racehorse right now. His legs don’t match his heart,” said the Australian jockey who was at a good weekend having notched two winners, Pratt Street and Marine Treasure, on Friday night.

“I tried to come off the fence and he had other ideas. He has badly-shaped legs and was awkward around horses.

“When he hit the front, he did it again. He’s still very green but he has a lot of ability."