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Trainer Lee Freedman lauded jockey Ruan Maia’s sense of initiative as the key factor in steering the consistent Healthy Star towards his first win on Friday night.
The plan going into the $75,000 1000m speed dash for Restricted Maidens was to take a handy sit, not too far back in what was expected to be a hotly-run affair, but when none of his 11 rivals seemed in a hurry to get mobile, Maia allowed the Per Incanto three-year-old to roll forward.
Even when Brutus (Benny Woodworth) from his widest gate came serving it up to them down the back, the Brazilian jockey still had his mount travelling relaxed on the chewy.
After box-seating in an ideal stalking spot, Pattaya (Vlad Duric) stated his intentions at the top of the straight when angled out for his run, but Healthy Star ($7) comfortably held him at bay the entire length of the home straight.
Two lengths were the winning margin in the end, while Brutus, despite his torrid trip, battled on bravely to hang on for third place another neck away. The winning time was 59.49secs for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
"He was beaten by two smart horses (Prime Time and Paletas) at his Restricted Maiden races," said Freedman.
"It wasn't the plan to lead, but he began so well and as there was no real pace, he went forward. I think Ruan summed it up quickly, he showed initiative – and I like initiative."
Maia keeps up the prolific association he has enjoyed at Kranji for Hong Kong owner Ngo Tai Tak, who races Healthy Star in partnership with Tseng.
Healthy Star is now the third winner from the former two-time Macau champion jockey's Kranji haul of four winners to carry Ngo's emerald and gold silks. Maia famously won his first Singapore race at his very first ride which came aboard Ngo's Circuit Land in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy (1600m) in 2018.
He did not win again at subsequent big-race cameos, but has now already racked up three winners at his first long-term contract this year, with Circuit Star the other Ngo winner. His first 2020 winner was Ironside for trainer Donna Logan.
"I did my best on the horse. He is a very nice horse, he had two seconds before tonight," said Maia.
"My two dangers were Brutus and Pattaya. My plan was to settle in second or third, but as they were not going fast, I let him go in front.
"I tried to control the first 400m, and in the last 400m, I pushed him and he responded very well."
Healthy Star has collected prizemoney close to the $70,000 mark for the Ngo & Tseng Stable courtesy of that maiden success and his two previous seconds at his first two runs.