Trainer James Peters predicted a handy future for Arc Triumph after the Showcasing three-year-old made all to score a stylish win in the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m on Friday night.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Zawari Razali, the $23 shot jumped smartly from his barrier No 1 to assume full command from the get-go while odds-on favourite Lim’s Zoom (Glen Boss) had to work harder from his wide gate, but still ended up getting trapped three deep.

The Mark Walker debutant still tried to take the race to Arc Triumph upon straightening, along with Ricardo Le Grange’s newcomer Good Catch (Nooresh Juglall), but Zawari had saved the best for last. 

Arc Triumph (Zawari Razali) goes all the way to score his first Kranji win on Friday, picture Singapore Turf Club

Once the Malaysian rider asked his horse to go through his gears, the issue was soon put beyond doubt. Arc Triumph pulled away to salute at his fourth start, with one-and-a-half length to spare from Good Catch and another one-and-a-quarter length from Lim’s Zoom, who was clearly beaten by his bad gate.

The winning time was 59.49 seconds for the 1000m scamper on the Polytrack.

“He was gelded after his last start and has come back more mature and more tractable. He was a lot better,” said Peters, who was even more chuffed about the win given Arc Triumph was the first horse he bought personally.

“He showed good ability at his trials in New Zealand, and at his early starts here as well, but he did a few things wrong, like he ran off the bends.

“With gate one and a lot of inexperienced horses in the race, the plan was to go forward and Zawari rated him very well. From his last prep, he should get over more ground too.

“I think he should have a few more wins under his belt. He has a bit of a future here.”

Peters said the booking of Zawari (who also won aboard Brahma Circus among Peters’ other three winners for the year) was not only about the two-kilo claim as 57 kilos are often handed to senior jockeys.

“Zawari has had some luck for the owners, and he rode the horse a treat,” he said.

The Kelantan-born rider finished runner-up to Wong Chin Chuen in the Singapore apprentice jockey’s premiership last year, and looks well poised for another successful season, being already at his fourth win, one behind Troy See (who opened the Friday meeting aboard She’s The One).

“The horse was playing with his head a little, but he’s a horse you cannot hold, you just have to let him stride,” said Zawari.

“There was a bit of pressure on the outside coming to the home turn and he was hanging out a bit, but I still had plenty of horse at the top of the straight. Nice horse and nice win.”