Fairway's Turf Online

Good Fortune for Kuah in debut

SINGAPORE: Apr 8, 2016

SMART FORTUNE coasting to an easy to give new trainer Kuah Cheng
Tee a dream start - SNTC photo

Former jockey Kuah Cheng Tee enjoyed a dream start to his career as a full-fledged trainer when his very first runner SMART FORTUNE scored a upset win in the Initiation - 1200m sprint at Kranji here tonight.

Kuah was granted his licence only last Friday and SMART FORTUNE was one of a dozen horses he officially took over that day.

The Irish gelding, who cost 10,000 as a two-year-old, had finished down the field in two starts at the tailend of last year.

After four-year-old break, SMART FORTUNE showed a complete turnaround when he made all the running to win by two lengths tonight.

Kuah, 40, is a former jockey who rode a total of 38 winners before he hung up his boots in 2003. Keen to pursue a career within the horse racing industry, he first joined trainer Hideyuki Takaoka as a senior track rider the same year.

The Singaporean then graduated to the position of stable supervisor in 2005 before earning his assistant-trainer’s licence four years later. Kuah then moved on to work with other trainers, namely Mok Zhan Lun, John O’Hara and Sonny Yeoh.

"The horse just came to me but he’s been improving since I detected a tumour on his left foot. I had it fixed and he’s been working well," said Kuah. "I ride this horse in trackwork myself and I noticed he doesn’t like to be ridden from behind. When I ride him forward, he gets on the bit and is more eager. I told Saifudin to try and go forward if he could or ride him close to the lead. The field was not tough and it’s paid off."

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1000M
4	RON	L Laxon	A Da Silva	1
	(6 ch.nz.g Align - Baralo'kash by Kashani)
5	Wonderful Era	L Dragon	K A'Isisuhairi	2
8	Tongariro	HK Tan	Woodworth	3
3	Daad's The Way	B Marsh	CC Wong	4

2	INITIATION - 1200M
4	SMART FORTUNE	CT Kuah	Saifudin	1
	(4 gr.ir.g Moss Vale - Alynamix by Linamix)
11	Miss Streisand	L Laxon	CW Brown	2
2	Alphanova	B Marsh	CS Chin	3
9	Smiddy Byrne	S Baertschiger	J Powell	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
8	SMART INVESTMENT	M Yusof	MM Firdaus	1
	(3 b.a.g Bon Hoffa - Devotee by Encosta De Lago)
6	Flying Winner	T Kieser	E Chaves	2
10	Zac Gallant	M Walker	CW Brown	3
2	Fragrance Empire	D Kok	N Juglall	4

4	KRANJI STAKES D - 1400M
3	WARPATH	S Baertschiger	J Powell	1
	(7 b.a.g General Nediym - Southern Rose by Unbridled's Song)
6	Paltrow	L Laxon	V Duric	2
14	Master Banger	Khoo	WS Chan	3
7	Ginseng	S Gray	R Azhar	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
4	BIG BANKER	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(3 b.a.g Rothesay - Montare by Montjeu)
11	Real Goodman	S Lam	S John	2
10	Super Velox	Khoo	M Nunes	3
8	Reysha	S Yeoh	A Da Silva	4

6	MAIDEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1	PANACHE	L Laxon	V Duric	1
	(3 b.a.g Spinning World - Counter Girl by Geiger Counter)
9	Sun Dance	D Koh	Woodworth	2
12	Amistad	HW Tan	K A'Isisuhairi	3
10	Victory Commands	S Lam	A Da Silva	4

7	CLASS 3 - 1600M
10	NEWLANDS	S Gray	V Duric	1
	(4 b.a.g Mugharreb - Lady Migaloo by General Nediym)
9	Gold Peregrine	S Burridge	B Vorster	2
2	Well Done	D Kok	M Nunes	3
5	Ideal Guide	L Laxon	E Chaves	4

8	BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M
4	LIM'S RALLY	S Burridge	CW Brown	1
	(4 b/br.nz.g O'Reilly - Bella Valentina by Pins)
3	Flak Jacket	S Baertschiger	Kellady	2
8	Rafaello	P Shaw	N Juglall	3
2	Jay Eff Express	S Burridge	M Nunes	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1200M
3	EAGLE STORM	S Yeoh	Aslam	1
	(6 b.a.g Danabird - Stormystormynight by Hurricane Sky)
9	Queen's Seven	H Takaoka	Anandan	2
2	Wonderful	M Walker	M Nunes	3
10	Free Happy	M Walker	CK Ng	4