Via Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
Good Luck Charm proved too strong for his rivals with an impressive first win in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1000m on Sunday. It was his first run after nearly a year away from the races.
The son of The Factor ran six times previously when under the care of trainer Alwin Tan, scoring three thirds as his best results. He last ran in a Restricted Maiden race and came in seventh with French jockey Olivier Placais.
Shortly after the four-year-old horse was transferred to New Zealander Donna Logan’s yard, he underwent a knee chip surgery and was spelled up north in Malaysia.
Ridden by new partner Alysha Collett, Good Luck Charm sprung out of barrier one to shoot to the lead on the rails.
Favourite Ninetysix Warrior (Tengku Rehaizat) and newcomer Theodore (Wong Chin Chuen) followed closely behind and tried their best to catch up in the straight, but Good Luck Charm never looked beat.
Blinkered for the first time, the $19-shot was clearly in a winning mood as the strides grew larger towards the post. Good Luck Charm won easily by five-and-a-half lengths from Lord Justice (Beau Mertens), while Ningaloo (Daniel Moor) finished another half-a-length away in third.
The winning time was 59 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
Assistant-trainer Graeme Forbes was glad to lead in the stable’s 26th winner, which came seven weeks after their last winner Tiger Force on October 13.
“We got him and found a couple of chips in his knees, so we had bone chips removed from his off-fore knee,” said Forbes.
“We then sent him to Malaysia for a while to recuperate, and now he’s come back really well, and done well today.
“Blinkers made him sharper, and he’s been working well, so we were pretty confident today.
“It’s good to get a winner for the stable after some time.”
Collett, who scored aboard the James Peters-trained Meryl on Friday night, was firing in another easy first win for the weekend.
“He jumped out well today, and with the blinkers on, it was easy,” said the New Zealand jockey.
“I didn’t have to do anything, just sit and steer him.
“The time off probably did him a whole world of good as well.
“He was just a little immature-looking at his last start, but he seems to have put it altogether today.”
Raced by the Thai-owned Falcon Racing No 8 Stable, Good Luck Charm has now earned more than $30,000 in prizemoney for his connections.
