By Sharon Zhang, Singapore Turf Club
Talented sprinter Fame Star repelled Rocket Star by a head to bounce back to his best after more than two years.
Owned by the Toasts Trust & Shane McDonnell Stable, Fame Star has won all his previous eight races through powerful frontrunning displays, the last coming in a Kranji Stakes A race on February 15, 2020 when under the care of his previous handler Leslie Khoo.
The 2019 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy winner has since transferred to newly-licensed trainer Stephen Crutchley this season, finishing fifth behind up-and-coming galloper Lim’s Kosciuszko in a Class 2 race a month ago.
Blessed with a lightweight and the inside barrier this time, the $44 shot bowled along nicely in front under apprentice jockey Jerlyn Seow, while another noted speedster Makkem Lad (Yusoff Fadzli) gave chase to sit in second outside his girth.
Grand Koonta (Wong Chin Chuen), Kharisma (Marc Lerner), Mr Malek (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) were next in line, keeping a close watch on the fleet-footed leader.
However, there was to be no sign of capitulation from Crutchley’s ward. He brushed up hard against the rails as Rocket Star (Manoel Nunes) closed in with every stride, but hung on by a head to score.
It was a valiant effort from the Ricardo Le Grange-trained gelding, who was most probably beaten by the luck of the draw (12). Grand Koonta finished another one-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.
The well-backed Gold Star made ground late to run sixth. His rider, comeback jockey Ronnie Stewart, returned empty-handed at his first Kranji race meeting since being granted a licence at the end of last year.
Fame Star, a seven-year-old US-bred clocked 1min 08.88 secs for the 1200m on the Short Course of the $100,000 Class 1 race, shaving off 0.27 seconds off the previous class record held by Grand Koonta in 2020.
Crutchley noted that many factors in the race worked to Fame Star’s advantage, with connections harbouring hopes of running him in the Group 1 Lion City Cup.
“We had a light weight (49kgs, after a 3kgs-claim from his apprentice rider), the inside barrier and the Short Course which were all very helpful,” said the New Zealand conditioner who was at his second win of the season after Mesmerizing opened his account two weeks ago.
“This is such a good field, so we can’t be overconfident going into the race, but we were very happy with our horse. He is a very good horse.
“We will prepare him for the Lion City Cup and hopefully, he can get into the big race.
“I was also very happy with the way Jerlyn rode the horse. She tries very hard and comes to ride trackwork early every morning.
“She deserves every win coming her way.”
The $300,000 Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) is run under weight-for-age conditions on the turf. It will be held on August 14 this year.
Currently the only licensed female rider in Singapore, Seow sits on top of the apprentices’ premiership with five winners to-date.
“I rode him once during trackwork and at his recent trial, where he ran second to Kharisma,” said Seow.
“This horse has natural speed, plus he’s only carrying 49kgs, which takes the weight off his back and it’s a big advantage.
“Very happy to achieve a great result for Crutchley and myself.”
Fame Star has now taken his handy record to nine wins and 13 placings in 36 starts, raking in over $750,000 in earnings for his connections.
