Promising youngster Star North (NZ) (Savabeel) has got his first win in the S$20,000 Open Maiden Division 1 race (1200m) at Kranji on Saturday.
The four-year-old had been knocking on the doors at his first three starts this year with two seconds and a third in similar races over the same trip. After a seven-month break, he resumed first-up in early November when he ran sixth to Sacred Buddy.
With jockey Saifudin Ismail on board, Star North broke cleanly from barrier two but was snagged back behind the leaders on the rails moving steadily forward as they straightened for home.
With a few reminders from the whip, Star North pulled away from the rest at the 100m. He won by three parts of a length from Prince Lonhro while Royal Commission finished another head away in third.
Though Star North had been kept to the six furlongs in all his runs thus far, Saifudin thought the PSM Racing Stable-owned gelding could step up in trip in future.
“It’s the first time I rode him and everything went according to plan,” said the veteran Malaysian jockey.
“I sat him midfield on the rails and the blinkers also helped him to focus.
“At the last 250m, I thought he hesitated a bit when he was inside horses, but as soon as he got through the gap, he quickened away.
“I think he can go up to 1400 or 1600m no problem.”
Assistant-trainer Zairi Othman reckoned Star North has matured from before and agreed he can go over longer.
“I think he’s quite good. When he first started out here, he was immature, now he’s settled down well,” said Zairi, who stood in for trainer James Peters as the latter flew to Hong Kong on Friday to attend the Hong Kong International Races.
“He came back after a long break and needed the run at his last start, but he’s had a good prep this time.
“We told Saifudin to ride him where he’s comfortable and be in third or fourth.
“He’s still young and from the way he ran, he can go over longer.”
Other New Zealand bred winners in Singapore on Saturday included Lim’s Zoom (NZ) (Zacinto), Tennet Tentennet (NZ) (Telperion), Roda Robot (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Outfit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) & Surrey Hills (NZ) (Sweynesse).
