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Handy performer Supernova showed once again he races better when he enjoys plenty of galloping room after he landed the $75,000 Penang Turf Club Trophy Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m on Polytrack on Sunday.

Drawn in a middle alley, Supernova settled in fifth but with little company around him in transit, and when jockey Barend Vorster went for the stick shortly after cornering, the lightly-raced five-year-old son of Elusive City attacked the line with plenty of purpose to peg back Terminator (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) close home.

Supernova ($39) hit the line with three parts of a length to spare from Terminator with favourite Golden Sand Steed (Joao Moreira) plugging on for third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 11.05secs.

Without taking anything away from the winner, Terminator was being hailed as the moral winner in some quarters given his saddle had noticeably slipped back in the running to the point the girth had ended up almost around his haunches after the line, putting A’Isisuhairi (who kept looking down at the saddle in the early stages, a sign trouble was already afoot) in an uncomfortable position throughout the race.

Prepared by trainer Bruce Marsh and raced by the Tudor Lodge Racing Stable, Supernova has now recorded a handy tally of five wins and two placings from only nine starts for prizemoney in excess of $180,000.

Marsh said his confidence grew when he saw his ward travelling on his own terms, not crowded by other runners for most of the way, and knew he would knuckle down to the task once homeward bound.

“At his last start, it was the first time he was caught between runners. At all his runs, he is normally drawn out and goes around them,” said the Kiwi conditioner who had a big entourage of fellow New Zealand guests to toast to the success at the winner’s circle.

“He’s such a game horse, very genuine and honest, but it’s best when he has galloping room around him. I think he will keep improving.”

Marsh admitted to not having noticed Terminator’s slipped-back saddle as he had eyes only for his runner.

“To be honest, I had no idea, as I was only watching my horse,” he said. “But he was running on good and did a good job to win as Terminator was a pretty promising horse some time back.”

Vorster, who was at his first association with Supernova, was full of praise for the way the gelding hit the line.

“He’s a nice individual that I had the chance to ride early on at his barrier trials. I already had a nice feel of him then,” said the South African lightweight jockey.

“I then told Bruce he would come on later and he has done a really good job to hold him together.

“I had to dig him up a lot as I didn’t want to be left too far behind, but I was also mindful he had 58kg on his back.

“At the 600m, I took him to the outside, and he was always going to get there. He showed plenty of fight to catch the leader.”