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Jockey Marc Lerner got off to a great start in the new season with four wins, equalling his personal best record in Singapore.
The former German-based French jockey, who finished second to jockey Manoel Nunes on the 2023 jockeys' log on 44 wins, kick-started the new season with three on the trot after The Shadow ($25), September ($31) and Flaming Migliore ($18) took out the first three races on Saturday.
Four races later, the in-form jockey steered the Jerome Tan-trained Khao Manee ($39) to victory in the $30,000 Dujardin 2014 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 2 Race over the mile.
Having recorded a four-timer thrice previously at Kranji (in 16 October 2021 and 9 and 16 September 2023), Lerner was again happy with his big haul on Saturday, but the talks of a possible champion jockey title this year was not on the humble rider's mind.
"I'm not thinking about it (jockeys' championship). I just want to enjoy riding in the races till the end. You know when you're on good horses, it makes things a lot easier for you," said Lerner, who is at his sixth year of riding at Kranji.
"The Shadow is a get-back type of horse and he suited Class 5.
"Flaming Migliore trialled very well on the Poly(track). It was a weak field but we had a good gate (one) and a trouble-free run, so he won it easily. Unfortunately, he bled after the race.
"September was relaxed today. I rode him (September) at his last three trials and he was quite immature and wanted to do a bit more.
"Today, he jumped and was also a bit keen but after I gave him more reins, he relaxed beautifully. We had a good run and he fought in the end and won."
After sitting in second outside of leader Mission Five (Kaiz Khair), September gradually outsprinted the Lim-trained newcomer at the 150m, winning by one-and-three-quarter lengths on the line. June (Vlad Duric) ran another one-and-a-half lengths behind in third.
The winning time for the $50,000 Constant Justice 2019 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race (1100m) was 1 min 4.75secs on the Polytrack.
The Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned gelding ran third at his debut run for ex-Kranji trainer Michael Clements on 15 July before being transferred to trainer Daniel Meagher. After three trials, he opened his account first-up, albeit Meagher reckoned the three-year-old son of Showtime was not mature yet.
"He still has a lot to improve mentally. He's not mentally there," said the Australian handler, who pulled off a double on Saturday after maiden Lim's Bighorn ($12) won the $20,000 Guru-Guru 2017 Stakes, an Open Maiden race (1200m) later.
"He had a few trials and a jumpout. On the Poly(track) over 1100m, I told Marc to let him run and use his own action.
"I have a lot of time for this horse. He still has a lot of improvement left. This race would have done him a world of good.
"It's good for Marc as he has worked on this horse a lot."
Bought for A$230,000 as a two-year-old at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale, September has took his earnings to almost $50,000 for connections with his first win in two starts.
Champion jockey Manoel Nunes, who successfully defended his title last year, continued his good run into the new year with another quartet of wins on Golden Brown, Lord's Command, Flying Nemo and Super Salute, who took out the Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m) for Lim on Saturday.
