By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Sometimes you wonder what goes through the mind of a thoroughbred.
Some racehorses – perhaps too many to mention here – either refuse or have forgotten how to win races, and even the most patient of trainers and owners are tested daily.
So, when the “penny drops” on a particular horse, it can be something to behold, and there is no better example of a horse finding his winning mojo from humble beginnings in Singapore than Lucky Jinsha.
The Shooting To Win four-year-old – who carries equal top-weight in this Saturday’s Kranji Stakes B event over 1400m – was only battling when he was transferred to the Tim Fitzsimmons stable back in May 2021, with some honest form (at best) from six career starts.
And things didn’t improve at his first start for the Australian handler when finishing seventh – beaten some four lengths – in a Class 5 race won by Ironclad over 1400m on the turf on June 19.
So, what happened in the three weeks before his next start?
Well, not much according to Fitzsimmons.
“The feedback I had from a jockey after his first few track gallops for me was that he felt like a 1400m horse, so that’s where we started him,” said Fitzsimmons.
“But obviously, he only battled that day, so we thought that with the blinkers on, being back in trip and a more positive ride may improve him.”
It certainly did improve him.
Under a positive ride from apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin, Lucky Jinsha broke his maiden status at start number eight, with an impressive 3.8-length win on the Polytrack over 1200m in Class 5 Company.
And although he found one better at his next start on the turf (also in Class 5 company over 1200m), given the tough run from the wide gate, Fitzsimmons was confident going forward.
“In hindsight, we should have led that day (when running second to Sun Rectitude) and I reckon he was a good thing beaten,” he said.
“And the way he worked on the track after that run, I knew we had a good horse on our hands and even said to Jerome Tan (fellow trainer) that I think Lucky Jinsha is Class 2 material.”
Fitzsimmons cannot remember what Tan thought of his comment (an eyebrow raised perhaps, given he had just been beaten in a Class 5 race) but the penny may well have dropped that day as Lucky Jinsha won his next race – untouched – by some seven lengths.
A step-up to Class 4 at his next start saw a narrow but tough win that was followed by a well-deserved spell.
“He definitely had come to the end of that preparation as he also had some feet issues to overcome, which we managed with the help of Jessen (Dennison, farrier) and Dr Dan (Shaw, vet), who both did a great job getting him right,” said the Australian handler.
After his break, two very nice trials suggested he had come back bigger and stronger, and a smashing five-length first-up win over 1200m on the Polytrack in Class 4 only confirmed Fitzsimmons’ bullish thoughts.
A slight hiccup to this preparation – his feet again – had him scratched from what looked like an ideal Polytrack race in February, but he got the job done in a rare turf run in Class 3 over 1200m in March to make it four straight wins.
The streak was not over and Manoel Nunes – who had been onboard for his last two victories – again made every post a winner back on the Polytrack at what may have been his last run in Class 3 company.
Can he step up again and win on the turf over 1400m in Kranji Stakes B company and make it six straight?
Fitzsimmons – who currently leads the 2022 trainers’ premiership with 22 winners –thinks he can, with a caveat or two.
“Obviously, there are a few queries going into Saturday,” said Fitzsimmons.
“He has yet to win or even place over the 1400m and the company will definitely test, but we think he is a special horse and this race will tell us just how good he is.
“And it was a bonus there were options for him over 1400m on Saturday (the Kranji Stakes B race was only added to the programme after overwhelming nominations for the Class 1 event) as Nunes can now ride him and we can dodge a couple of Dan’s (Daniel Meagher) good horses.”
And win, lose or draw, the race will also tell Fitzsimmons and connections where to next for the Lucky Unicorn Stable-owned gelding.
“We want to find out if he can run the 1400m at this level before we try our luck against the big guns in the Kranji Mile and perhaps a crack at the (Group 1 Singapore) Derby,” he said.
“But there are other options if he doesn’t see the trip, perhaps a break and the (Group 1) Lion City Cup (1200m), so it’s very exciting times ahead regardless.”
A horse and trainer in very good form, with bigger things in store for both.
