Trainer Mok Zhan Lun wrapped up a good Labour Day weekend with a haul of two winners from a small team of only six runners.
Armed with only two horses on Sunday, the Singaporean handler took the honours in the last race with $58 chance Host The Nation prevailing in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1200m thanks largely to one of those trademark forceful rides from Benny Woodworth.
Saddling a slightly bigger squad of four runners on Monday, Mok again had to wait for his last runner to taste victory – New Zealand gelding Enthuse in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1000m on Polytrack.
With Singapore champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen astride, the Coats Choice four-year-old was at his second crack at Class 4 company following a creditable fifth behind Kolombia a fortnight ago.
Mok was not exactly brimming with confidence on Monday, thinking the Ninetyseven No 3 Stable-owned gelding might still find the opposition a little rich, but Enthuse proved him wrong.
Jumping smartly from barrier No 1, Enthuse went straight to the lead before handing it up to noted flier Exceed Express (Syafiq Hazman) when the latter came spearing over.
Not giving in to panic, Wong just bided his time until the point of turn when he angled his mount out for his run. Enthuse and Exceed Express did lock horns for about 100m before the former gained the ascendancy, the pull of five kilos between the two no doubt doing its bit.
Natural Impulse (Saifudin Ismail) came late onto the scene but Enthuse was already home and hosed, holding him off by 1 ½ lengths. Premier Fighter (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) took third place another half-a-length away. The winning time was 59.05 seconds for the 1000m on Polytrack.
"I thought he needed a bit of luck in Class 4, and he had more of a place chance," said Mok.
"But everything panned out well for him. He jumped well and found himself in a good spot behind the leader.
"He always tries his best and I guess the small weight on his back also helped him."
Wong said he just listened to Mok's instructions to not break his stride even if something else came over to challenge him.
"He jumped well, and Mok told me to make sure I let him stride. The other horse (Exceed Express) came up to him round the bend to cross in, but luckily, I didn't have to ease him off," said Wong.
"The pace was fast but he was travelling nice and relaxed. Turning for home, I could feel the horse in front stopping and my horse was just too good in the end."
Offered by Berkley Stud at the 2014 South Island Session, he was successfully pinhooked by Taikorea Thoroughbreds Ltd at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs where he was purchased with the intention of sending him to Singapore. Enthuse has now recorded three wins and one third in 15 starts for his owners led by Mr Hong Ying Kwee of Super Easy fame for stakes earnings past the $90,000 mark.
