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The vastly-improved Strong N Smart went back-to-back with a commanding win in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m on Saturday.

Three weeks after getting off the mark with a nose-win in a Novice race over the same trip, the Per Incanto three-year-old was even more impressive this time from the way he romped in unextended.

Benefitting from an economical run on the fence in midfield, Strong N Smart always had stablemate First Choice (Iskandar Rosman) in his sights three pairs back. He just had to switch out for his charge to the line when Valorous (Oscar Chavez) took the first run to go and collar First Choice, and the rest was a piece of cake.

Under Chavez's urgings, Valorous shot clear, but Strong N Smart  made him look second-rate when he powered past towards an easy 2 ¼-length win.

Valorous  held on gallantly for second place, with a half-a-length to spare from First Choice, while the rest of the field never had a look-in in the 1200m race that was run in 1min 10.08secs on the Short Course.

Trainer Leslie Khoo has now prepared Strong N Smart to his two wins from only three starts under his care since taking over from trainer Kuah Cheng Tee. The veteran handler took such a shine to the horse he even decided to buy him from his previous owner.

"I've always liked Per Incanto, he's also a popular sire in Hong Kong. I've got Grand Fighter by him, he won on debut for me and ran a nice race at his last start," said Khoo.

"But I also bought him because I thought he had some ability. Today, he was fitter and had more confidence after his first win, and he won very well."

Khoo has logically locked in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) in two weeks' time on June 27 as Strong N Smart's next target, but doubts whether winning partner Danny Beasley will stay on.

"I will ask Danny, even if I know he's on Dan Meagher's three-year-old (Lim's Kosciuszko). Or else, I will have to find another jockey," said the former top jockey.

"I'll run him in the Sprint, and we'll see how he goes. I think the 1400m of the next race shouldn't be a problem either."

Khoo was referring to the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on July 18. As the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) has been dropped this year, the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge is by default not in contention.

Strong N Smart has now taken his race record to two wins and two seconds from 10 starts for prizemoney in excess of the $105,000 mark.