Trainer Michael Clements is going to have an embarrassment of riches when the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge rolls around in June now that he can throw in impressive Friday winner Only Win in the mix.

The Zimbabwean-born handler already flaunts three of the leading four-year-olds under his barn roof in champion three-year-old Countofmontecristo, and the exciting Jubilant Racing duo of Tannhauser and Chopin’s Fantaisie.

Perhaps Only Win was not talked up in the same vein a few months ago, but that latest win in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m to bring up a three-in-a-row has now flung the US-bred son of Tribal Rule into the 4YO spotlight. 

Only Win (Alan Munro) scores a hat-trick of wins on Friday, picture Singapore Turf Club

Whether he can hold his own in such aristocratic company, including his handy stablemates, was case for conjecture until the spanking he gave to some fairly smart rivals on Friday night.

What added more merit to his latest victory was more the way he made light of his torrid trip three wide punching the breeze before swooping down towards such a facile victory, beating debut winner Yulong Xiong Hu (Ryan Curatolo) by two lengths with favourite King Louis (Barend Vorster) again biting the dust, another half-length away in third place.

Ridden by Alan Munro for the first time, Only Win ($25) clocked 1min 35.08secs for the 1600m on the Long Course, with his bank account having now bulged past the $130,000 mark for the Hwa Yi Stable.

“He’s been wanting the mile. He’s won over six furlongs and it’s a great effort for him to win over the mile, it was a great run,” said Clements.

“He’s a tough individual and has handled this prep very well. He probably needs a break now.

“When he comes back, I will probably set him for the 4YO series now.”

Munro, who was bringing up his sixth win for the season, said he was not too concerned by Only Win covering extra ground for the best part of the mile journey.

“He’s got a very good future here. He’s got strength and there was no stopping him tonight; he flew in,” said the English jockey in his trademark matter-of-fact style.

“He was caught three deep but he didn’t really care about that, did he? He’s still a bit green, though.”

Only Win did show an inclination to lug in when he came with a wet sail on the outside. Munro, a cool and seasoned professional not known for riding with reckless abandon, immediately took corrective action: Adroitly switch his whip to his left hand, which immediately brought his mount on an even keel – all in good time before dealing the final blow.