3 minute read

Former Singapore juvenile champion Onceuponatime’s good genes seem to have been passed down to his progeny at Kranji.

One month after three-year-old filly Moonraker became his first offspring to salute in an Initiation race over 1200m, it was another three-year-old filly, Moon Charm’s turn to do her dad proud.

Both are trained by Onceuponatime’s handler David Hill and raced by the Full Moon Stable, but their racing styles are clearly different, though, and so are their temperaments according to Hill.

While Moonraker, who scored from start to finish, seems to be a sprinter at this stage, Moon Charm is a little more of a chip off the old block.

“This one wants a trip compared to Moonraker. She is also more relaxed, more professional while Moonraker was more nervous,” said the English mentor who still considers Onceuponatime along with Flax among the two best horses he has trained in Singapore.

“She is out of a mare by Marju, so she wants a bit more distance. Anyway, they’re both nice fillies in their own way.

“She (Moon Charm) will be better next year. I will give her a break as she’s had five starts and won tonight.”

Jockey Corey Brown jumped off Moon Charm with a rave report that spoke volumes about the scope of opportunities lying ahead.

“She really surprised me with her turn of foot tonight,” said the Australian rider.

“She was so relaxed in the running, but when that thing (Pusong Pinoy) left the fence, she dropped off and came back for me.

“She was looking at Vlad (Duric on Pusong Pinoy), but wouldn’t go with it, but once she dove through the gap, she really lengthened up when I put her under pressure.

“I actually watched her past videos before I first rode her. I decided to ride her out from the start, but she didn’t go a yard. In hindsight, I pushed her too much and tonight I had her more relaxed and it worked out better.

“I think it’s a great idea to give her a break now. She will thicken up and come back even better.”

Coasting along in fourth place about six lengths off the leader Gold Power (John Power), Brown certainly did not bring Moon Charm ($26) under the cosh until the last 500m as Pusong Pinoy rolled off the fence and left some room for them to weave their way through.

Once she found daylight, she just exploded away to go and score by just under four lengths from Lethal Weapon (Michael Rodd) with Hoffman (Glen Boss) third another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 36.17secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.