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Kranji’s most senior resident showed he was not ready to be put out to pasture yet when he scored a feelgood win for Dad’s Army on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
And we are not talking about champion trainer Laurie Laxon.
Lucky Sun, who at 10 years of age, is the oldest registered thoroughbred racing at Kranji, defied his ageing legs and 11 much younger rivals in the $35,000 Class 5 race to come up trumps in a blanket finish.
Ridden by Ivaldo Santana, the son of Almutawakel (another giveaway of his age given there are not many active progeny from the late stallion, a Dubai World Cup winner in 1999, who died in 2007) came from a midfield spot to spring into contention at the top of the straight. Zac Star Destroyer (Joao Moreira) and Desert Viking (Greg Cheyne) were the only two runners who could ruin his plans as the rest of the field were all well beaten.
For a fleeting moment, Lucky Sun was running more like a placegetting chance, but under Santana’s strong urgings, he suddenly found another gear to get his neck in front. Zac Star Destroyer beat Desert Viking for second by a head. The winning time was 1min 12.65secs.
Trainer David Kok and Lucky Stable’s racing manager Richard See were both extremely delighted the “old man” could still win races – his 13th in 125 runs that have also yielded 13 seconds and 11 thirds.
Kok said there was no “fountain of youth” secret to Lucky Sun’s long shelf life, just a burning desire to win.
“Horses don’t know how old they are. The old man still wants to win – he’s good as gold,” said Kok who could barely hide his admiration for the hardy chestnut.
“There is no secret recipe. This fella’s just very sound and has very good legs, and in his mind, he feels like a young horse.
“It’s just a matter of keeping him happy and finding the right races for him. I must say Santana is also a very strong rider and had a lot to do in today’s win.
“I took off the blinker pacifiers at his last couple of starts, but it didn’t seem to work. I put them back on tonight and that was probably why he was well in the market (favourite at $17).
“He was a lot more focused and could race closer to the pace. Anyway, he didn’t beat much but so what if it was a weak field, he’s only a Class 5 horse and that is where he will stay until we retire him.
“I don’t know when it’s going to be, though. Maybe it’s his last season this year, but anyway, he will tell us when he’s had enough.
“We’ll just potter around with him. We’ll see how many points he gets from the handicapper and we’ll take it from there.” Lucky Sun, who last scored on May 11, 2012, has now amassed stakes earnings in excess of $520,000 – a mark not many Class 5 dwellers can lay claim to.