In-form trainer Young Keah Yong is upping the ante on Clarton Treasure, but still backs his undefeated ward to keep the winning run going in Friday’s $80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack.

The versatile Guillotine three-year-old recorded his two wins over both Polytrack (on debut over 1000m) and turf (second-up over 1200m) five weeks later. Young was actually more inclined to find a turf race at his third outing, but with the next such available race too far off, he had to fall back on Friday’s all-weather event.

Clarton Treasure will be tackling some pretty handy Class 3 sorts like the James Peters duo of Mr Hanks and Arc Triumph as well as Leslie Khoo’s exciting three-year-old Lord O’Reilly – all last-start winners, but Young said Clarton Treasure had to be tossed against the bigger boys at some stage, especially as they’re slowly getting on top of his cantankerous ways.

Trainer Young Keah Yong has high hopes for the unbeaten Clarton Treasure, picture Singapore Turf Club

“The rise in class is a question mark no doubt, but fitness-wise, I’m happy with him and I hope he can measure up,” said Desmond Koh’s former assistant-trainer.

“I wanted to run him on turf next, but the next one is far away in the programme. As you know he is a bit of a hothead and you can’t keep him in his box too long.

“I saw that Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack and I thought why not give it a shot.”

To Young, the horse who races for the same connections of dual Group winner Clarton Super (trained by fellow first full-season trainer Tan Kah Soon), the Pentagon Stable, has shown he deserved to be taken to the next level.

“He’s turning four next week. He’s a lot more mature now,” said Young who is having a remarkable season on 19 wins scored from 14 individual winners to sit in 13th spot on the log given he is still building up his stable (currently a strength of 40 horses).

“He’s still on the hot side, but he is a lot more settled compared to the beginning. We have been very patient with him.

“(Regular partner) Azhar (Ismail) was very happy with his gallop yesterday. He said the horse has maintained his condition.

“If he goes well on Friday, then I will be looking at that next Class 3 race over 1200m on turf further down the road.

“Eventually I would like to step him up in distance, but I will still give him a bit more time.”