Hoof niggles are clearly behind Special King after the talented colt scored a brilliant first-up win on Friday.

The Magnus three-year-old had stamped himself as a promising sort for trainer Alwin Tan last year, but had to be put on the backburner after he was hampered by a hairline crack around the hoof area.

A sound recovery thanks to the Singapore Turf Club farrier’s treatment, coupled with a strategic headgear change in the $60,000 Class 4 Premier race over 1100m, have put his racing career back on the right track.

Special King (Nooresh Juglall) scores an easy first-up win in the penultimate race, picture Singapore Turf Club

Ridden with great confidence by first-time partner Nooresh Juglall, Special King ($23) leapt out of the pens like a scalded cat, but could not afford to loaf around when favourite Most Favorite (Matthew Kellady), who drew one, booted up on the inside to hold him off the rails.

Special King eventually gained the coveted spot 700m out, but then had to contend with the pesky presence of Katagas (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) when the grey came eye-balling him on his outside.

Juglall had the bit between his teeth, though. The Mauritian jockey, who just came off a riding treble on Sunday, was not about to relinquish pole position.

Katagas tried to draw on level terms at the top of the straight while Most Favorite was sweating on the inside gap, but Special King held sway. Once his rider sooled him up for his final run, he pinched a three-length break on Katagas and Most Favorite, who both struggled to keep up.

Second favourite Speedy Phoenix (Ryan Curatolo) was the one making solid headway down the middle, but he could not quite chip away at the margin either.

On the other hand, outsiders Super Denman (Barend Vorster) and Lim’s Hunter (Glen Boss) gobbled up the Polytrack late, but to not much avail either, as Special King was already home.

Super Denman took second place one length astern with Lim’s Hunter in third place another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was a smart 1min 6.36secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.

“This horse had to rest after he had some hoof problems. He had a hairline crack and it takes a long time to grow,” said Tan.

“Here, I’d like to thank the Club farriers for the good job they have done around the hoof area.

“Tonight, I wanted him to use his natural speed to lead even if he drew wide (eight). That’s why I put visors on to sharpen him up, and he was able to go all the way.”

Juglall, who does not ride all that often for the 2016 Singapore champion trainer, was thankful for that rare leg-up. The Mauritian jockey, who has racked up a total of 179 winners in five seasons spent at Kranji, was at only his fourth win for Tan, the last one coming aboard 2017 Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry on New Year’s Day in 2016.

“Alwin himself rang me for the ride, which does not happen very often, but it was good to ride another winner for him. Big thanks to him and the owners (Special Luck Stable),” said Juglall.

“It’s also a big thank you to the team for the good job they’ve done with this horse. He’s still a bit coltish; he took some time to get there (front).

“I was a bit worried when the other horse came next to us, but I took hold of mine for as long as I could.

“I’ve not seen him race on turf (debut) but I would say he is more of a 1200m Polytrack horse. The 1100m is a bit sharp for him as it’s harder for him to tuck in if he is drawn out.

“Over 1200m, there is less pressure and I think it will suit him better.”

Special King has now registered two wins and two thirds from seven starts for stakes earnings that have shot past the $85,000 mark for the Special Luck Stable.