Derby hopeful Lim’s Magic enjoyed a cruisy barrier trial one week ahead of his first-up run next Friday week.

Ridden by regular partner Glen Boss, the Manhattan Rain four-year-old was cajoled to the line as he ambled up on the outside of Mr Hanks (Vlad Duric) but looked happy enough to sit back a head astern all the way to the line.

Unseen since an unplaced run in November, Lim’s Magic will make his much-anticipated racing comeback in the Class 3 race over 1400m on May 18.

Magic hands: Glen Boss pins high hopes on the Stephen Gray-trained Lim's Magic, picture Singapore Turf Club

At Tuesday’s barrier trials, trainer Stephen Gray was seen at the holding area fussing over the horse he has tagged as his leading hope for the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 15.

Dubbed as something out-of-the-box after posting two sterling wins in Initiation and Class 4 company (both over 1400m) in October, Lim’s Magic, however, ran a moderate fifth place in a BM67 race over 1400m at his next assignment.

Not quite sure what went amiss, Gray tipped him out before getting on the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge trail, only to be felled by a bug – which, in retrospect, might have been the conviction for his last ordinary run.

“He was coming along nicely, and it just went ‘bang’. He just went crook,” said Gray.

“He was supposed to run in a 1200m race, which was too short for him. In a way, it’s better we put off his first-up run as he had a few more weeks to run over 1400m.

“The Derby is still a fair way away, but he’s a horse who’s showed plenty of ability and is going in the right direction.

“Glen thinks he’s got a good future. I hope for us and Mr Lim (Siah Mong) he’s right because I’ve heard that from many jockeys before.”

Gray might be holding Boss to his word, but that did not seem to stem the lauding.

“He’s come back a much better horse after the break. I really like him a lot,” said the Australian jockey.

“He hasn’t had the opportunity to really show what he can do as he’s only had a few starts. He gave a glimpse of that ability last year.

“At his last start, he lost a bit of weight, and in hindsight, we should not have run him. A few days later he did a temperature.

“He had a good spell and is all set for the Derby. Stephen has given him a very good prep towards the 1400m first-up, a good base with two trials.”

Boss said he was banking on quality horses like Lim’s Magic to breathe more life into a somehow half-baked first quarter.

Though he currently lies in fourth place, tied with the injured Ryan Curatolo on 22 wins, still within whiffing distance of current leader and defending champion Vlad Duric (31 wins), the Australian Hall of Fame jockey felt he has not quite “bossed” his way this season.

“It’s going okay, even if I’ve had a few meetings where I had only two rides, which is tough,” said Boss who made it clear when he came to the Lion City in 2016 that he would go for the championship.

“It’s been harder than I thought to break through, and I don’t know any jockey who came here and fired away at his first season – except for Joao Moreira, of course.

“But I’m counting a lot on those young horses from Steven Burridge. There are some nice horses among those.

“I can’t complain with the quality horses I am getting in big races, though. Besides Lim’s Magic for the Derby, I think Lim’s Cruiser was really unlucky not to have won the Merlion Trophy and can win a second Lion City Cup.

“Quarter Back ran on very well in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic and I think he’ll be an exciting horse. He should be a strong chance in the Guineas.

“And of course, Well Done. He’s coming right this horse, don’t write him off in the Kranji Mile.”

Boss is referring to his full book across the three Group 1 events being run as part of a racing extravaganza on May 26, the $1.5 million Invitational Kranji Mile (Well Done), the $1 million Lion City Cup over 1200m (Lim’s Cruiser) and the $1 million Singapore Guineas over 1600m (Quarter Back).

Even at this Friday’s standalone meeting, Boss will be hopping back aboard a horse Gray also saw as Guineas material after his impressive win at his second start in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on April 13.

Whether the Per Incanto three-year-old is in the top drawer he is cracked out to be will be revealed in no small measure in the $60,000 Class 4 Premier (1400m) on Friday. Boss was aboard at his two Kranji starts for a second and a win.

“He’s another good horse with good ability,” he said.

“He played with them at his last start. He sat wide and still went on to score a nice win.

“He’s a real miler, he’s a lovely horse with an exciting future.”