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Star Genius redeemed herself from her luckless last outing with a sizzling turn of foot that saw her claim the $75,000 Novice race over 1200m on Monday.
The Starcraft filly was dominant at her maiden win in an Initiation race over 1000m race in March but fell by the wayside at her next start after she bungled the start.
She was this time lining up in a strong field made up of last-start winners Smart Fortune and Chopin’s Nocturne as well as debut winner War Citi, but Mark Walker’s charge made light work of her rivals when she dashed through a gap at the 300m.
Well ridden by Shafiq Rizuan, Star Genius was never going to get beaten the moment she navigated her way past the weakening Satellite Power (Oscar Chavez) to sail past Miss Blanchett (Vlad Duric). Urashima Taro (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) ran on stoutly on the outside but he was no match for Star Genius’ clear superiorirty.
The three-year-old filly romped in by two-and-a-half-lengths from Urashima Taro with Miss Blanchett third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 10.34secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Walker said he was prepared to forgive her last run, but did not quite expect such a stellar run to the line on Sunday, especially inside the last 300m.
“She missed the kick at her last run. You had to forget she went around on that day,” said the Singapore champion trainer and this year’s current leader.
“I think the wet track helped. There was a bit of rain and she seems to like the going; she travelled really well on it.
“She really quickened up and won by 2 ½ lengths. I’m not sure if she is more of a turf or Polytrack mare as she’s won on both now, but she was pretty impressive in any case today.”
Raced by the Genius Stable, Star Genius has taken her record to two wins and three placings from six starts for stakes earnings past the $110,000 mark.
Shafiq said he had to squeeze his way through to get a clear run, but there were never any anxious moments once he was out of the woods.
“They went really fast in the first 200m, and I just took a sit with her,” said the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey.
“I was just hoping for luck in the run. In the straight, Oscar’s horse was dropping back and I had to make sure I had enough momentum to get past him.
“Once she got through, she just took off for a very easy win.”
Shafiq, who only returned to race-riding in March following his run-in with the rules of racing regarding taking rides in races where a relative owned another runner, is slowly but surely making up for lost time. The Malaysian jockey was bringing up his eighth winner to sit in 13th spot on the Singapore jockey’s premiership.
