Popular local trainer Leslie Khoo hit another milestone on Friday night when he rang up his 400th winner at Kranji.

Aptly, it was Auspicious Day who handed out the accolade in the second race, the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m.

The planets have also lined up for the Showcasing three-year-old as he was also getting off the mark at his 13th start, coming home with a strong finish to hold off a stinging challenge from Turf Princess.

Auspicious Day (Ryan Curatolo, No 1) holds Turf Princess (Olivier Placais) off, picture Singapore Turf Club

A former top jockey on the Malayan Racing Association circuit, Khoo trained in Ipoh first after he hung up his boots, before crossing the Causeway to train on his home soil at Kranji in 2008. The 64-year-old Katong boy was all smiles as he, along with Auspicious Day’s owners and connections, toasted to the landmark win since his first Kranji winner Joe And Jayzeeca saluted on July 4, 2008.

“It’s been quite some time I’ve been waiting for No 400. I’ve been knocking on the door,” said Khoo.

“It’s good it was Auspicious Day that made it for me as it is indeed an auspicious day for me, and let’s hope there will be more wins to come.”

Khoo said the vastly-improved gelding had racing experience on his side, having earned his first chops as a regular juvenile contender last year, albeit without winning.

“This horse has been improving, he has been knocking on the door,” he said.

“It’s great for the owners as they have been very patient. Ryan (Curatolo) rode him very well.”

Leslie Khoo (holding the bottle of champagne) celebrates his 400th winner with the connections of Auspicious Day, picture Singapore Turf Club

The French jockey was also rapt he was the one to have edged Khoo over that 400th mark.

“I’m super happy for Leslie he’s won his 400th race. He deserves all the credit,” he said.

“And he’s also done a great job with this horse. The pace was a bit too fast for me, so I took him back and I was happy to settle behind Michael Rodd (on favourite Cracking Tottie).

“They took me into the race all the way to the wire.”

The $13 favourite looked a moral when she made a sweeping run three wide round the home turn, but she was left standing when Auspicious Day sling shot past her at the 300m mark.

Turf Princess (Olivier Placais) emerged from the pack at the 200m to turn the last furlong into a double battle of the French and the fillies, but Auspicious Day ($16) and Curatolo were not to be denied as they hung on by half-a-length with Cracking Tottie making it a filly trifecta another 2 ½ lengths away.

The winning time was 1min 23.88secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.