By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons’ bid to defend his Singapore champion trainer title could be off to a great start when star Polytrack sprinter Lucky Jinsha features in the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race (1100m) on Saturday.
The five-year-old son of Shooting To Win was a revelation in 2022 when he first won in Class 4 company on January 8, before wrapping it up with his fifth win of the season in a Class 2 race on November 5.
His only defeat last year was on the turf over 1400m, albeit with injury as an excuse, but while he was not a one-trick pony since he won on the grass track over 1200m in March, his Polytrack form – four-from-four in 2022 – was exceptional.
A recent smart trial on December 29 – he won comfortably in the slick time of 58.78secs – suggests he is on song for a big first-up run, with Fitzsimmons also looking forward to racing returning to Kranji after a much needed ‘spell’ on the back of his stable’s breakout year.
“My first real family holiday since I started training three-and-a-half years ago, so I really enjoyed the break,” said a refreshed Fitzsimmons on Tuesday, who won his first champion trainer title on 65 wins, six more than runner-up, Donna Logan.
“I think Lucky Jinsha enjoyed the break too.
“He was phenomenal last year but I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment. My farrier – Jessen Dennison – has done a great job with him and I honestly think he’s in better shape now than he has ever been in.
“He’s a happy horse and he trialled enormous last week – I think that was one of his better trials. We have kept him very fresh this week with some light pacework this morning and (jockey) Manoel (Nunes) was really happy with him.”
But Fitzsimmons knows his stable star is up against some serious Polytrack competition on Saturday, with one eye on the $110,000 Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on February 4.
“It’s a difficult race this week and there are some really nice horses in it,” said the Australian conditioner.
“Donna’s horse (Entertainer), (trainer) Ricardo’s (Le Grange) horse (Rocket Star) and (the Mahadi Taib-trained) Surpass Natural ran enormous at his last start, so it’s not an easy race,” he continued.
“I do think he (Lucky Jinsha) is better over 1200m. I know that sounds funny given he’s won his last two over this trip (1100m) but he is a better horse when he can slowly wind up, which the 1200m trip allows him to do. The Merlion Trophy is his main target in a month’s time.”
Fitzsimmons has three other horses nominated for Saturday but with Dancing Light and Mister Dynamo listed as second and first Emergency Acceptors in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1000m and $30,000 Class 5 race over 1000m respectively, it is a maiden runner in Ahorsewithnoname having a crack in a $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m that could be his only other runner.
“She’s (Ahorsewithnoname) going along okay but she will benefit from this run and get better over longer. Lucky Jinsha is definitely our best chance,” he said.
Given the hectic finish to 2022, Fitzsimmons was always looking at a slow start to the new season, with the knowledge that his stable will grow in momentum as his runners last year return to race fitness and his new stock find their feet in Singapore.
“It was full on right to the end last year, so I definitely sat back and enjoyed the achievement with my family over the break; they are the most important people. But it was a good freshen up for the stable and me,” he explained.
“Hopefully now we can build on that success over the next couple of years, but after keeping most horses running to the end of last season, it will be a quiet start to the year.
“But we will have more runners later this month and some good new horses to keep us busy, including some three-year-olds that have trialled well. I have also purchased eight or nine two-year-olds that are on their way to Singapore.
“We have some new and raced horses too, which is a good balance. Jig Racing has a lightly-raced four-year-old, Mimosas, who is one to watch. He won down the straight in Flemington and he looks a nice type.”
