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TRUMPY, a well proven galloper in his native Argentina, has been a huge disappointment in Singapore where he managed just one win in 39 starts although he finished on board in the Gold Cup twice.

And at the age of eight, he might just be enjoying a new lease on life after his first-up win in Malaysia in the Supreme B set-weight event over 1400m at Sungai Besi here today.

On hand to partner his first run here after his recent transfer to Lawson Moy was Singapore-based jockey Marc Lerner who was also making his first appearance in the country. Lerner has not ridden the eight-year-old previously.

Lerner must have learnt quite a bit about the track here in the first five races in which he was placed twice.

The Frenchman allowed TRUMPY to settle last in the eight-horse field. The favourite CHEVAL BLANC, unbeaten in three starts after coming over from Singapore himself, jumped best and led early before surrendering the lead to TORNADOS PEGASUS.

But CHEVAL BLANC regained the lead at the 400m while TRUMPY was making up ground behind runners at this stage.

CHEVAL BLANC started to drift out from the 200m and TRUMPY closed in on the inside of the track to hit the front close to home to win by half a length. TORNADO PEGASUS held on for third.

"A big thank you to owner Peter Lee and his connections for bringing the horse to Malaysia," said Moy who is enjoying his best start to a season and leads the table with nine winners.

"TRUMPY will benefit from this first-up run and I look forward to racing the horse over longer distances to maximise his potential. It was a big ask to win today as the field was strong."

Trumpy  won seven races including four listed races in 13 starts at three and four in Argentina.

In Singapore, he finished fourth to BIG HEARTED in the Gold Cup in 2020 and was again fourth to HONGKONG GREAT in the same race two years later. His only win at Kranji came in a Kranji Stakes C race in 2021.