Imperium lived up to the promise shown on debut with a gutsy winning display second-up in the $85,000 Gong Xi Fa Cai Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Saturday.

A fast-closing third at long odds at his first race on January 21, the I Am Invincible three-year-old came up with a similarly inspiring run when he was eased into a striking position by jockey Glen Boss upon straightening.

Kiss Your Song (Matthew Kellady) tried his best to cling on to his lead down the Kranji straight but was left with no answer when Imperium collared him. Debutant David’s Sling (Ryan Curatolo) ran on late but could only come within half-a-length of Imperium.

Imperium (Glen Boss, No 5) gets the better of David's Sling (Ryan Curatolo) by half-a-length in Race 2, picture Singapore Turf Club

Longshot Venus De Milo (Azhar Ismail) ran third another two lengths away. The winning time was 1min 10.31secs for the 1200m on the Long Course. Imperium paid $11 (favourite) for a $5 outlay.

Winning trainer Michael Clements, who saddles only two runners (the other one being Siam Sapphire later) at the Lunar New Year’s Fortune Bowl meeting, said Imperium was not without ability but needs to be handled with kid gloves.

“He showed he was prone to heat stress at his first start. We have to take him straight to an air-conditioned box after the race,” said the Zimbabwean-born handler.

“In the race itself, he also did a lot more wrong today than he did at his first start. He tends to overrace.

“But he has a lot of pace and natural ability. If he keeps improving in the right direction, he should have a good future here.

“He is owned by the same connections as Siam Sapphire, who is my only other runner later. It’s an easy day, and it couldn’t have started any better.”

Boss said Imperium was a “stress-head” who will turn into a better racehorse if he can take a chill pill.

“He’s a little horse but he is a bit of a stress-head,” said the Australian jockey.

“The stable has done a good job with him. His whole body is so tense, he looks like he will go off like a firecracker, but he is okay once he gets cover.

“He is not really light-mouthed but he takes a lot of convincing. He needs to run over such short trips for a while but there is a lot more in store for him.”