NEXT UP

A very smart horse on his day, this six-year-old son of Mossman was returning to the winner's circle after an absence of some 623 days (last won on March 9, 2018) and was able to hold some better-fancied rivals at bay in a busy finish for the evening's feature race.

Having dropped 13 points since his last success in a Kranji Stakes A, over 20 months previously, it was the fourth time that John was on board and in the process recording a sixth victory over the 6 f turf course at Kranji.

Having jumped cleanly from barrier No 7, SUPER FORTUNE  ($54) was able to settle nicely in midfield for John as Charger (Shafrizal Saleh) went forward to lead the field out of the backstraight in advance of stablemate Special King (Ng Choon Kiat) with the well-fancied trio of Kiss Your Song (Matthew Kellady), Federation (Benny Woodworth) and the returning Groenewegen (Michael Rodd) all close up as they turned for home.

As the field entered the home straight, Super Fortune had plenty of daylight between Kiss Your Song and Groenewegen to mount his challenge. Kept up to his work by John, Super Fortune was too strong at the line for Groenewegen, who was returning to action after an enforced layoff of 896 days, by a short head with the first-finishing Magic Wand (Wong Chin Chuen) a further head back in third.

Favourite Federation ran fourth and was far from disgraced in his effort despite being very well supported. The winning time was 1min 10.19 secs on the Short Course.

Tan was delighted he had notched his 29th winner of the year (seven shy of last year's tally).

"He was checked twice last run, and so I told John today to give him more daylight. I thought he followed the instructions well," said Tan.

"For a while, it felt like he's lost his way, so that's why I decided to remove his blinkers. He also ran well without them, but I still think he needs something to make him sharper.

"I will freshen him up and look for a suitable race for him again."

John was in a rather jovial mood post-race, attributing a sentimental reason to the loss of form.

"I think he misses Olivier Placais! I tried to ride like him, but I couldn't, so I rode my own style," said John in reference to the former Kranji-based French jockey who partnered Super Fortune to his five previous wins.

"He was unlucky last start. He was blocked inside, but he still ran on for fourth.

"Tonight, he ran on the outside and kept on fighting back. The pace was good for him, and he likes a little bit of give in the ground. Everything went well for him tonight."

Raced by the Eight Eight One Stable, Super Fortune has now taken his earnings to over $420,000 from his six wins and seven placings from 30 starts in Singapore.