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Augustano’s never-say-die attitude was again a sight to behold after he forged yet another gutsy win – his third in a row - on Friday night.

The Hard Spun five-year-old has now won eight races, but only once did he salute by more than one length.

Resuming from a two-month layoff, the Lee Freedman-trained galloper was again involved in a hotly-contested finish, and true to himself, did just enough to snare the thicker end of the prizemoney in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1200m. 

While a shorthead and a head were the winning margins at his last two narrow victories, he had a little more to spare from Eye Guy (Benny Woodworth) this time (half-a-length), but it is clear the King Power Stable-owned galloper loves a good scrap.

Ridden by leading apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong, Augustano  had Eye Guy in his sights from the start. When Michael Clements' galloper accelerated at the 400m, Augustano was onto him like a rush.

Neck-to-neck stuff ensued, with Augustano going just a shade better inside the last 100m. Coming from well back, Safeer (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) joined the fray late to finish third another three-quarter length away.

Backed into $45, Augustano ran the Polytrack 1200m in 1min 10.64secs, taking his tally to eight wins, six of which came on the all-weather, and five placings from 22 starts for a tidy sum of $420,000 in prizemoney for his Thai connections.

"He has a great affinity for the Polytrack," said Freedman.

"He's a straightforward horse to train, even if he does have some feet issues. He didn't race for a while, but when he's on song, he's really good.

"Simon also gets along very well with him."

The leading apprentice jockey, who is, barring injury or suspension, well on his way to a first Singapore champion apprentice jockey title, has with that latest win maintained an unblemished record of four-from-four on Augustano.

"Autumn Rush was my first winner and is a special horse to me, but I've also won four from four on Augustano. He's pretty special, too," said Kok who was at his 25th 2019 win, a dozen wins clear of Shafrizal Saleh.

"He's now won three in a row. He tries really hard and always gives his best.

"I know the horse well. I know how to judge him in his runs.

"From the good draw, we tried to go forward, but I realised Eye Guy was a bit faster than us when he came across early.

"My horse was keen behind and he always hangs out a little, but he finished off very well in the end.

"I'm really grateful for the support from the trainers. Without their support, I wouldn't have got to that stage."