The Leslie Khoo-Elite Performance Stable partnership is starting to gather momentum after they brought up a second winner in Elite General on Friday night.
The relatively new pairing have around a dozen horses on their books, and it was Elite Warrior who gave them their first hurrah on May 1.
And now the former Sydney-based sprinter (then known as Trick Star when prepared by jockey-turned-trainer Peter Robl) has added to the tally in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1000m.
Elite General (Shafiq Rizuan) finishes the best to score his maiden win on Friday, picture Singapore Turf Club
Khoo said he knew the one-time winner over 1200m at Canterbury wore blinkers in Australia, but decided against applying the headgear at his first couple of runs.
“Elite General wore blinkers back in Australia, but I wanted to see how he runs without any gear first, just so I learn about him better,” said Khoo.
“He ran well without the blinkers at his second run (second to My Horse), but I thought it was time to put them on because he kept looking around. It would help him focus better.
“He’s a nice horse with some ability and at this stage, I have no problem stepping him up to 1200m as he’s won over that trip in Australia.
“He’s run over turf in Australia, but for now, I will keep him over Polytrack as he seems to handle it very well.”
Khoo welcomed that second Elite winner to the raucous cheers of the large entourage who headed down under the Elite Performance Stable.
“I’m very happy to train a second winner for the Elite Performance Stable,” said the former top jockey.
“They have invested a lot in horse racing here and it’s good for them to get some returns like tonight’s winner. Let’s hope there will be more on the way.”
Perfectly ridden by Shafiq Rizuan, Elite General, who was sent out as the $11 favourite, was in the slipstream of race-leader and rank outsider ($653) Public Figure (Ng Choon Kiat) before he gained the ascendancy in the home straight to draw clear to a 1 ½-length victory.
Public Figure, an Irish-bred who has been finishing at the rear of late, held on for a surprising second place, a neck ahead of Auspicious Ace (Alan Munro). The winning time was 58.52 seconds for the 1000m speed dash.
