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In-form French jockey Olivier Placais cemented his first place on the Singapore jockey’s premiership with yet another winner on Sunday, Muscular Captain.
Riding his sixth winner in the new season, the 32-year-old jockey was lapping up his moment in the sun, calling it a “big thrill” to be the one sitting atop, given how competitive the Kranji riding ranks are.
“It’s my first time leading in Singapore or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve led only the Swiss championship, but it’s not quite the same,” said the well-travelled six-time Swiss champion jockey.
“I’m really thrilled to be leading here and I can only hope it lasts. Of course, it’s way too early in the season, but I’m getting good support from the trainers, especially Alwin Tan, and hopefully that can help me maintain the same momentum.”
Tan, the newly-crowned Singapore champion trainer, himself on top of the heap with Muscular Captain, his eighth already, forged a solid partnership with Placais last year, a trend which does not seem to be showing any letting up. Tan is at this stage behind five of Placais’ 2017 wins, the sixth one being prepared by Leticia Dragon.
“Oli rode this horse very well. He had him in the right spot and his usual strength did the rest in the home straight,” Tan summed up.
“Muscular Captain was at his third start for me. He came to us from Leticia Dragon in good condition and I just had to find the right race for him.
“The increase in distance from 1400m to 1600m helped him today and the field was not all that strong either.”
Placais said Muscular Captain was a horse he had a bit of time for, and was no doubt pleased he had more than a passive contribution to the maiden win.
“I like this horse. He has been coming along nicely and the step-up in distance helped him today,” he said.
“I was a little concerned when the Mark Walker horse (Hidden Promise) rolled forward and tucked in behind the leaders as I had to come out to improve my spot, but it worked out well in the end.
“He showed plenty of determination when I launched him. It was a maiden win that was full of merit and I’m really happy I was the one who gave him his first win.”
Backed down to $12 favouritism, Muscular Captain, a three-year-old by Mastercraftsman defeated longshot Red Riding Wood (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) by two lengths with El Don (John Powell) third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 35.62secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.