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Apprentice Desmond Chan Wei Sheng felt on top of the world after he swooped down aboard Star General to upstage better-fancied rivals in the $60,000 Open Benchmark 67 race over 1100m on Friday night.
Leslie Khoo’s apprentice jockey was returning from a two-day suspension that not only put him on the sidelines, but also deprived him of his first 2016 winner.
The horse he rode, Speedy Dragon, was first across the post but was demoted to second place after Castor’s jockey Troy See lodged a successful objection for interference, which Chan was eventually found guilty of and paid the price with two enforced rest days.
But the break turned out to be not so eventless for the rider – far from it. His wife gave birth to their first child on February 8, the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Spurred on by that happy event, Chan was determined to bounce back to his best when he returned to race-riding on Friday night, and deep down thought Star General would be his best chance to do so.
Granted the Mint Lane four-year-old’s last two runs have been lacklustre (eighth and fifth) but Chan had a hunch he was getting on at the right time – and he sure was entitled to feel he had got the proverbial “monkey off his back” after his run of bad luck.
“I had a feeling the horse had improved. I gave him a chance even if he was in a very strong field that also had Alwin Tan’s two top three-year-olds (Conflight and Rich Fortune),” said Chan.
“The boss just told me to ride him patiently and I had him in a good spot running relaxed throughout. Maybe the wet track did not suit some horses including the favourites, but my horse was flying in the home straight.
“I’m very happy my boss has given me a good ride at my return from suspension. Alan Munro normally rides this horse but for some reason he did not get on and the boss gave me the ride instead.
“This is a great start to the Year of the Monkey. I just welcomed my baby girl Jaymie on the first day of Chinese New Year, she’s my golden monkey!”
Khoo said he was not all that surprised the $58 shot had returned to winning ways after showing promise early doors.
“It’s a nice horse the late Australian trainer David Balfour (former Bukit Timah trainer) picked for me in Adelaide. He should have been a Class 1 horse if not for his bad joint to his left leg,” said the Singaporean trainer.
“That’s why the wet track probably suited him tonight. I actually thought he had a small chance and he quickened very well in the last 200m.”
Raced by the Trend Stable, Star General was recording his third win from nine starts and has brought more than $120,000 in stakes earnings to his connections.