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The publicity-shy combination of trainer Mohd Yusof and powerful owner Lucky Stable were flung back into the spotlight after Constant Justice sprang a mini-upset in the season’s traditional first feature race, the $200,000 Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m) on Tuesday.
Kranji’s oldest-serving handler has not won a feature race since Huat Chai under former champion jockey (and now trainer) Saimee Jumaat landed the Group 3 Three Rings Trophy in 2009.
The 65-year-old’s highest acclaim remains the Singapore Gold Cup with Smart Bet in 2002, but he has always remained low-key even at such momentous occasions.
He did walk up to the dais to accept his trophy with the Lucky Stable’s racing manager Richard See by his side, but as usual, was economical with his words even in the wake of a return to the big time after 10 years.
“Nothing much to say, except that I’m glad I’ve won a feature race for the Lucky Stable, one of my main supporters in the last few years,” said the reclusive trainer.
“I don’t have a big team, and to win a big race after so long is quite special.”
He added that Constant Justice, his only runner of the day, has been regaining his old form of late, but he still remained rather sceptical the Magnus six-year-old could account for such a handy field made up of the likes of Singapore Derby winner Jupiter Gold, Polytrack specialist Maximus, Hong Kong Group 3 winner Blizzard, the ever-consistent Rafaello, to name a few.
“He’s always been a good Polytrack horse. I’ve targeted this race for him and he’s been working well,” added Yusof.
“It was a strong field, but the jockey won on him before and was confident of a good run.
“Last time, he was a go-forward type, but he now sits behind the pace and it’s worked out well.”
Boss, who was aboard when Constant Justice lost by a pimple to Rafaello at their last contest in a Kranji Stakes A race at last year’s last meeting on December 9, did harbour a silent hope they could turn the tables on Ricardo Le Grange’s galloper as well as upstaging the other marquee names.
The Australian Hall of Fame jockey certainly had a few more words to share about the $78 chance’s surprising win – a neck to spare from his last-start nemesis Rafaello (Barend Vorster) for the perfect revenge.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for this horse. He was held in high regard in the past but has lost all form altogether,” he said.
“I got on him one day and I told Yusof he doesn’t feel happy. We changed a few things around and he was bucking his brands off again.
“Yusof has kept him fresh and he was back to what he used to be. I cantered him around during the week and I told Yusof he’ll run very well.
“Last time, he would be on the speed, but he came from behind today.
“Sometimes, the roles are changed as horses get older. They went pretty fast early, and I decided to drop him back and he came with a swooping run instead.
“He’s got a short burst and I had to time his run well. I made a mistake on him last time as I got there too soon on him, and we got beaten a nose by Ricardo’s horse (Rafaello)
“The same horse came back again when my bloke hit the front today, but he did a good job to hang on this time.”
Indeed, Constant Justice looked to have his job cut out when he lost his early handy spot after a fair start. From fourth in the leading bunch, he shuffled back to eighth spot on the outside while Special King (Nooresh Juglall) and Super Winner (Noh Senari) were going helter-skelter upfront.
Boss did not panic, only getting on his bike from the 600m, as they circumnavigated the field to be within striking distance at the point of the turn.
Softened up by the early efforts, Special King and Super Winner invariably faded out of the race at the 400m, with Rafaello making the strongest appeal at that juncture.
But the swoopers were descending thick and fast, as to be expected after they went hand over first in the first half of the speed dash.
Colonial Chief Stakes winner Maximus (Troy See) was still in contention as he tried to weave his way through the packed bunch while Jupiter Gold (Marc Lerner) had it all to do on the fence after missing the kick.
James Peters' Nowyousee (Amirul Ismadi) poked his head in at the 300m but it was clear he was not quite up to that class yet as he started to plod away.
There was no mistaking where the win would hail from when Constant Justice whipped around the outside to vault to the firing line with a furlong to go. As Constant Justice flattened to the line for his run, he collared Rafaello and put his head in front only for the latter to push his way back.
In a stirring stoush reminiscent of their last confrontation, the two protagonists locked horns again, but it was Constant Justice who held sway this time – by a neck. Maximus ran on gallantly but could only finish third another 1 ¾ lengths away.
Blizzard (Daniel Moor) stormed home late for fourth place another 1 ¼ lengths away, a clear sign the former top Hong Kong sprinter might be looking for more distance these days while Jupiter Gold did what he could in fifth place another length away. The winning time was 1min 11.39secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
Constant Justice has now amassed more than half-a-million dollars for the Lucky Stable following that seventh win from 25 starts in Singapore.
The win also symbolised the return to the top of a racing conglomerate once regarded as one of the most successful stables to have owned horses in Singapore.
Raced by late property tycoon Ng Teng Fong, the once formidable stable of top guns went quiet in the late 2000s – it has remained strong in Hong Kong, Ireland and Australia throughout – but has gone through a revival under his son Robert since 2012, even if just like his father, he is seldom seen at the races, preferring to be represented by See.
While it has taken some time to rebuild from scratch, they finally reaped the ultimate recognition for their renewed interest with the Leading Owners title by wins in 2018 on 24 winners (Lim’s Stable retained its title in terms of stakes won).
But Constant Justice is actually their first ‘black type’ winner in Singapore since the return to prominence of the famous purple and red colours at Kranji.
In its heyday, the Lucky Stable won all before them with champion horses like Lucky Treasure, Three Crowns, Peak Of Perfection X and XI, Trillion Win and Exaggerate. Light Of Success’s win in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2005 was their last big-race win until Constant Justice.
Just like his trainer Yusof, the Lucky Stable is enjoying its return to the limelight, which could not have occurred on a more auspicious occasion as the New Year’s Day.
“The Lucky Stable puts so much money in racing. It’s great to kick off in the first feature race of the year for them,” said Boss who often rides for them.
