RECAST has emerged this season stronger than ever before after a six-month layoff in the second half of last year.

Ridden again by Matthew Pumpa, the four-year-old chestnut Australian ridgeling by Thunder Gulch out of the Marauding mare Abonnement made it two wins in two starts this season when he captured the S$250,000 E W Barker Trophy over 1,400m at Kranji here tonight.

Winner of two of his three starts as a juvenile in Australia, RECAST scored thrice in seven starts last year, including the Singapore Guineas. He also emerged triumphant in the first lef of the Three-Year-Old Challenge over 1,200m but failed in the second and third legs over 1,400m and 1,600m respectively.

But he is a vastly improved horse after the spell and in winning tonight, defeated four previous classic winners in QUE EXPRESION, LEAD TO VICTORY, EXAGGERATE and MAYO’S MUSIC.

RECAST was one of four winners for trainer John Meagher this evening, with Soo Beng Kiang piloting the other three.