Smart Star proves just that in first Kranji win

SINGAPORE:  Nov 18, 2023
 
SMART STAR (Amirul Ismadi) coasting to victory — SNTC photo
 

A sudden step-up in the distances brought SMART STAR in first win in Singapore in the Class 4 - 2000m handicap at Kranji here today.

The Star Witness gelding was unbeaten in two starts over 1200m and 1300m as a juvenile in Australia. He finished on board in six of 10 starts in sprints at three and four before coming to Singapore.

At Kranji, SMART STAR continued to campaign in races from 1000m to 1400m in his first seven outings without success. Just two starts back in September, the five-year-old made no impression over 1000m on the polytrack.

A big step-up in distance in his next start saw SMART STAR finished fourth in a 1800m test last month.

Using that run as a springboard, SMART STAR ran out a 3 1/2-length winner against seven rivals today, giving apprentice Amirul Ismadi his 100th career win in Malaysia/Singapore.

"I suspected he would run well, but not to win that easily," said trainer David Kok.

"He had a lightweight (51kgs) and a good preparation, so we expected him to finish in the top three. He was knocking on the door in his previous runs but he really showed something in the last 200m."

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
2 WAR STAR J Ong M Nunes

1
  (3 ch.a.g Super One - Sirindhorn by Husson)  
1 War Frontier KS Tan B Queiroz

2
10 Flak Jacket S Baertschiger M Kellady

3
9 Happy Friday R Lim R Iskandar

4
 

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
8 WINDFALL R Le Grange N Rozlan

1
  (3 br.a.g Justify - Mongolian Beauty by Fastnet Rock)  
11 Lim's Jinba D Meagher K A'Isisuhairi

2
5 Pacific Commander J Ong B Queiroz

3
9 Super Baby J Tan S Shafrizal

4
 

3

 CLASS 5 - 1200M
5 CHARISMATIC L Khoo K A'Isisuhairi

1
  (4 b.a.m Wandjina - El Ashb by Fasliyev)  
9 Benbo HW Tan I Saifudin

2
1 Fortune Wheel R Lim V Duric

3
2 Nature Chief J Ong TH Koh

4
 

4

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
8 BUURAQ SIXTY-ONE T Fitzsimmons R Stewart

1
  (7 b.nz.g Sweet Orange - Miss Annaliese by Don Eduardo)  
10 Ciango CT Kuah V Espindola

2
6 Vgor R Lim B Queiroz

3
1 King Zoustar J Ong V Duric

4
 

5

 MAIDEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5 LONGEVITY R Le Grange V Duric

1
  (3 b.a.g Akeed Mofeed - Protracted by Encosta De Lago)  
2 Shihab S Burridge M Nunes

2
8 Tennet Tentennet L Khoo M Zaki

3
7 Bintang Sixty-One J Peters R Stewart

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 2000M
8 SMART STAR D Kok I Amirul

1
  (5 b.a.g Star Witness - Power Ahead by Authorized)  
2 Winning Stride S Burridge M Nunes

2
6 Top Field J Ong B Queiroz

3
1 King Of Sixty-One T Fitzsimmons S Jamil

4
 

7

 CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
9 LONHRO GOLD KS Tan B Queiroz

1
  (9 b.a.g Denman - Iltizaam by Exceed And Excel)  
4 Supermax R Lim M Nunes

2
2 Smart Gambit R Lim R Stewart

3
7 Pacific Charm J Ong K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

8

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
11 TALING PLING R Le Grange B Queiroz

1
  (4 b.arg.g Fortify - Kalimba by Freud)  
6 Last Samurai CT Kuah K Faiz

2
7 Groovy R Lim R Iskandar

3
1 Lucky Baby J Tan M Lerner

4
 

9

 CLASS 5 - 2000M
3 SPLIT SECOND S Burridge M Nunes

1
  (6 b.a.g Bullet Train - Stellas Delight by Nuclear Freeze)  
7 Atlas S Baertschiger R Stewart

2
8 Liebestraum S Gray B Queiroz

3
2 Laksana S Gray K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

10

 CLASS 4 - 1400M
10 LIM'S PUNCAK JAYA D Meagher R Woodworth

1
  (6 br.nz.g Pure Champion - Harmony Em by Stravinsky)  
11 Super Convince J Ong TH Koh

2
5 Grand Sage S Baertschiger R Stewart

3
2 Makin S Burridge M Nunes

4
 

11

 CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
6 CASH COVE HW Tan K A'Isisuhairi

1
  (4 gr.nz.g Charm Spirit - So Nice by Mastercraftsman)  
2 Red Dot D Kok V Duric

2
9 Condor T Fitzsimmons V Espindola

3
8 Written Towin S Baertschiger R Stewart

4