By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
Lucky Jinsha shed his ‘Polytrack specialist’ tag after he scored a first win on turf in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Sunday.
All of the Shooting To Win four-year-old’s four wins had been over the all-weather over 1200m previously. Unplaced in four runs on turf, he did show some improvement when second to Sun Rectitude in August last year.
An injury to the Lucky Unicorn Stable-owned gelding’s left fore foot caused him to miss his last start, but he has bounced back in style, and on his less liked surface for good measure.
“I had to scratch him last start (Class 3 race over 1200m on the Polytrack on February 13) because he had a bruised foot,” said winning trainer Tim Fitzsimmons, who currently sits on top of the premiership table with 14 winners, one ahead of trainer Ricardo Le Grange.
“He missed quite a bit of work, and only had a couple of light gallops and an easy trial.
“I thought he’d be really vulnerable this time because he’s up 9kgs, drawn wide on the turf and is stepping up to Class 3 for the first time.
“But that was an easy win. I am so impressed with this victory. He’s got so much improvement.
“Winning on turf adds another string to our bow and I’d really love to try him over 1400m eventually.
“I actually didn’t think we’d get to the front. I thought there will be too much speed in the race, but he got there so easily.”
Lucky Jinsha bounced out from barrier 11 and pressed forward under champion jockey Manoel Nunes. The race was all over bar the shouting as the $12 favourite pinched a gap on his rivals at the 200m, and went on to score by a length from Hadeer (Jake Bayliss), who tried as he might, could not quite peg the winner back.
Paletas (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) was held up turning into the straight, but began to give chase on the inside after Webster (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) rolled off the fence. He finished third another three-and-a-quarter length away.
The winning time was 1min 9.69secs on the Short Course over 1200m.
With five wins and one second in 13 starts, Lucky Jinsha has now earned more than $130,000 in stakes money for his connections.
Three-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes praised his mount for the exceptional effort on the turf and thought that stepping up to the 1400m would be of no issue.
“This horse has a big heart. He always tries 100%,” said the Brazilian hoop who went on to bag a double on Sunday courtesy of Brutus for trainer Donna Logan in the Lucky Last.
“He was scratched last time because of his hoof problem.
“The wide barrier was a concern, and for a horse to come back from a hoof issue and go well on grass, it’s not easy.
“Tim and his team have done a great job with him.
“He is a big horse and has a lot of speed. Even with barrier 11, he went to the front, controlled the pace and he just kept going.
“I think he can run the 1400m.”
Nunes has accumulated 25 winners this season thus far, nine more than second-placed Australian jockey Danny Beasley (16 wins) who was indisposed on Sunday.
