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Trainer Ricardo Le Grange snapped a run of outs with favourite Super Tycoon landing the money in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m on Friday night.

The South African handler has not visited the winner’s circle since Majestic Empress on March 15. The fact that  Super Tycoon  was bringing up only his eighth winner for the year does give an idea of the rather subdued season he has endured thus far. 

Le Grange, who finished runner-up on 65 winners at his first season in 2017 (sixth on 41 winners last year), does not helm as big a team of horses these days, but is in the midst of a rebuilding phase.

The win by what can now be called a stable stalwart like Super Tycoon was a great opportunity for Le Grange to express his gratitude to those who have stood by him through thick and thin. 

“I’m super happy for Andre Lim (of Super Easy and Super One fame) who has been a great supporter of mine from Day 1,” he said. 

“We’ve had a quiet run, but that’s the game we’re in. The wheels will turn and hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards from here.” 

The O’Reilly five-year-old has been in consistent form this year, being already at his second success. At his last start, he steamed home late for third place to the smart Richebourg in a similar Class 4 race over 1400m, but in Division 1. 

The opposition was just marginally easier on Friday, but Super Tycoon still showed plenty of merit in the way he put the race to bed even after showing a little bit of reluctance to take it up upon straightening. 

Ridden by Michael Rodd for the first time, Super Tycoon ($15 favourite) came off a smothered in midfield to stake his claim but seemed to be wasting precious seconds when caught in a bumping duel with One Force (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) on his outside at the 500m. 

With his head hanging outwards, he was not putting in while One Force seemed to be laying in on him, but as the two horses eventually went asunder, the shackles were off for Super Tycoon. In a few bounds, he shot past leader Overcoming (Ben Thompson) towards an easy two-length win. 

Overcoming held on for his second place, half-a-length clear of Raheeb (Shafrizal Saleh) with One Force in fourth place another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 22.26secs for the 1400m on the Long Course. 

“It was a great run from Super Tycoon. He’s a smart horse who has been holding his form,” said Le Grange. 

“It was a great ride from Michael as well.” 

Rodd said he was in an ideal spot in transit, but he did have some anxious moments when they cornered for the judge. 

“I was happy where he was, but he was a bit hesitant when he was hard up against another horse who was coming out,” said the Australian hoop. 

“But when daylight appeared, he let down very well. He’s a very honest horse.” 

With that fourth win, Super Tycoon has now brought his race record to four wins and six placings from 25 starts and prizemoney around the $190,000 mark for Lim’s Number One Stable.