Supermart does not win often but when things go his way, he seldom shirks a fight – and he duly obliged for his fourth career win on Friday night.

Unlucky at his last start when he was unbalanced down the backstraight, the Perfectly Ready nine-year-old benefitted from a trouble-free passage this time around to shape up as a live contender in the dash to the judge.

The $52 chance had to contend with some close attention from the better-backed Lim’s Bullet (Olivier Placais) and Jacks Secret (Craig Grylls) inside the last 200m of the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race (1400m), but superbly handled by Barend Vorster, the old boy defied his younger rivals – and his ageing legs – to snare the top prize by a neck from the dead-heating pair of Lim’s Bullet and Jacks Secret. The winning time was 1min 24.15secs for the 1400m on the Long Course. 

Supermart (Barend Vorster, No 10) emerges a narrow winner in Race 5, picture Singapore Turf Club

Trainer David Hill is well-known for his patience with his horses, especially old stagers (including Kranji’s oldest resident 12yo Cool Cat) who still earn their oats and pop up for the odd win once in a while. The Englishman does also have new blood coming through as evidenced by his first 2018 winner on Tuesday, Parador, a three-year-old by Poet’s Voice.

While Parador is owned by the Godfather Racing Stable, Hill’s second win was kept in the family with Supermart led in by his assistant-trainer daughter Samantha and racing in his wife Suzanne’s colours.

“He ran a good race on New Year’s Day (closing fourth to One Win), but he got into trouble at his second start,” said Hill.

“Look, he’s a limited horse, but he likes the soft ground as I remember he won once on such a track before.”

With that fourth win, Supermart has now taken his stakes earnings past the $140,000 mark for connections.

As Hill teasingly told Vorster he owed that win to a horse “trained to the minute”, the in-form South African jockey certainly did not mind the cheeky trainer claiming all the credit as long as it translated to another win for him – his fifth this year.

“It’s nice to ride another winner for David. He’s always thrown me a bone whenever he gets a chance,” he said.

“They may be Class 5 horses but a win is a win. They were attacking the line all over, but this horse dug down deep to hold on.

“I’m also very glad to have my nephew Johan with me tonight. It’s the first time he’s ever been to the races.”