Hot favourite Special King made light of a wide barrier to still land the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1100m in style on Sunday.

The Magnus colt jumped on terms to be quickly positioned handily by leading apprentice jockey Troy See before racing past Dream Comes True (Olivier Placais) towards a solid three-quarter-length win.

Dream Comes True hung on valiantly to the runner-up spot with Splinter (Barend Vorster) third another one length away. The winning time was 1min 6.23secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack. 



Troy See steers Special King to his third win on Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club

Winning trainer Alwin Tan described Special King as a “genuine horse” but who was still learning his craft.

“He lost his last race on objection. So we’re very happy with today’s result,” said the Singaporean handler.

“Troy did a good job on him. We saw the handicaps and we were a bit worried about Dream Comes True, so we took a sit behind him and it’s worked out great.

“I don’t race him frequently as his body weight keeps going up and down, but he’s a very easy horse to ride and is very consistent.”

See, who was at his maiden ride aboard the three-year-old, said he faced some steering issues in the straight, but the $8 favourite’s raw talent saw him safe over the line.

“Things didn’t quite go to plan. He was also laying in in the straight, but I had Plan B,” said See who maintains a four-win cushion on reigning champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen after the latter saluted earlier aboard Burkaan (16 versus 12 wins).

“Luckily, he kicked home strongly. Or else, I would have pulled Plan C out.”

From three wins as well as four placings from 10 starts, Special King has already brought returns of over $160,000 to his owner Mr Leow Kwee Choon.

The takings could have been closer to the $200,000 mark had the objection against him at his last start in a Class 3 Division 2 race over 1200m on May 6 not been upheld. The Shane Baertschiger-trained Dutrow was awarded the race in the Stewards’ room