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It is only the second meeting of the year and way too early to talk up premiership battles, but Power Play’s stellar win in the $80,000 Open Benchmark 74 race over 1700m has already put both jockey and trainer on top of the heap on Sunday.
Whether Nooresh Juglall and Patrick Shaw’s moment at the top is temporary will only be known in coming weeks, but the way both have flown off the starting blocks in the new 2016 season (both on four winners, with Shaw later joined by Steven Burridge) can only bode well for their future endeavours.
While Shaw is accustomed to such spots, especially early in the year, Juglall, who was at his second full season, has never found himself in the driving seat at Kranji, though he did win the South African champion apprentice jockey title twice.
But the one peculiarity to his current hot form is the fact that all his four winners thus far have uncannily been for Thai owners - Infantry (prepared by Alwin Tan) who is raced by the same owners as Power Play, Perfect P in the Group 3 New Year Cup and The General.
One member of the happy Thai connections was even heard inviting Juglall and wife Chaaya to visit Thailand one day.
“I’d like to thank the Thai owners for their support. It’s just a coincidence as I hope to ride winners for other owners too,” said the amiable rider.
“As for being No 1 at Kranji, I am glad to be on top but it’s only the second meeting and I have no doubt the other jockeys will give chase soon. Still, all the hard work I’ve put in is paying off and I will try my best to stay up there for as long as I can.
“As for today’s winner, Power Play, he’s always been a very good horse to me. This is my third win on him.
“The plan for today was to drop back and get away from Clutha Lad before he gets to me. I knew he would be sitting there at the back out wide and coming for me.
“I had to make an early move around the home turn as he was travelling so well, and once he put a space on them, he was just too good. He laid in a bit but it was still a very impressive win.”
Deputising for Shaw who is currently away on his South African vacation, assistant-trainer Ricardo Le Grange said Power Play was probably not 100% fit at his last start when second to Clutha Lad, but was glad he was able to turn the tables on the Mark Walker-trained gelding.
“He probably needed the run at his last start. He hit the front a little too soon,” said Le Grange.
“He’s a very smart horse and I’m sure his good run will not stop here. We’ll have to sit down and work out where he goes from here.
“Obviously, it’s nice to have a few good horses at the stable and sometimes, it’s just a matter of placing them in the right races. The better races will soon come up and it’s unavoidable they will all meet each other at some stage.”