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Jockey Wong Chin Chuen makes it back-to-back wins on Sky Eye in the $100,000 Cash Luck 2013 Stakes, a Class 1 race (1200m) on Saturday.
The two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey scored a handy win atop the Jason Lim-trained Sky Eye at their first combination in the Class 1 race (1100m) a month ago, albeit on the Polytrack.
There was no need to change a winning formula, more so when gate two can help Sky Eye's forward racing pattern.
Similar to his last run, the $10 favourite followed in second behind the leader, Lucky Jinsha (Manoel Nunes), who crossed from the widest barrier to take up the leader's role in the field of 10.
Turning for home, the reigning champion Polytrack horse looked to still be going strong at the 300m, but his second win on the turf was denied as Sky Eye loomed on his outside.
While it was not meant to be for Lucky Jinsha as he faded to run sixth, Sky Eye went on to win by three parts of a length from Ocean Crossing (A'Isisuhairi Kasim), who sprinted home after he got a clear galloping room at the 200m.
Senor Don (Ronnie Stewart) had to settle for third after losing out by another short head. The winning time was 1 min 9.26secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Sky Eye has now won nine races (1000m to 1400m) in 40 starts, taking his earnings to over $530,000 for owner Gan Gim Chuan.
Though the six-year-old gelding only had his first run for Lim in September 2021, he has since gone on to take out five more wins for Lim.
While his ratings stood at 95 before Saturday's win, Sky Eye should now pick up a few more points and surpass recent Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) winner, Super Salute, as the highest-rated galloper in Lim's yard after this win.
Lim joked that the two gallopers are "buddies" back in the stables, but on a more serious note, he has also decided to raise the bar higher with Sky Eye given the good form he is in recently.
"He is a very good eater and his 'best friend' is Super Salute. They always 'communicate' in the stable," said the Singaporean handler.
"He has improved a lot and he's a happy horse. He is easy to train and is also such an honest horse.
"He will go to the (Group 3) Kranji Sprint in two weeks' time."
Held on June 3, the Kranji Sprint (1200m) is the first Leg of the newly named STC Super Sprint series this year, which replaced the former Singapore Sprint series. The second and third Leg of the series are the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) on August 6 and the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on August 27.
Wong agreed that Sky Eye is now the "finished article" and he is ready to take up bigger challenges ahead.
"He's older now and he listens more, but all credit to the trainer," said Wong, who went on to bag the highlight race, the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) aboard Lim's Kosciuszko two races later (see later report).
"He had a lot of speed early but when Lucky Jinsha went past me, I was happy to take a sit in second.
"But when he (Sky Eye) suddenly charged (forward) at the top of straight , it made me a bit worried because we're on the Long Course and if I let him go (at that point of time), it would be too early.
"He settles better now and he is flexible, so he can jump and lead or jump and sit. You ride him where he's comfortable and he can give you a good sprint home."
