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Trainer Shane Baertschiger announced straight after Solaris Spectrum’s all-the-way win on Friday night that the Time Thief eight-year-old had run his last race.

The Australian handler, who was on his way to the airport, told the media via his assistant-trainer Scott Bailey, that Solaris Spectrum would be heading to a riding centre in Malaysia for a well-deserved retirement.

"We're retiring Solaris. He's served us very well with seven wins," said Bailey.

"Shane rang me up to confirm the news. It's great that he went out on a winning note.

"He'll go to a riding club in Malaysia. He's a quiet horse and he'll be suited in that new career.

"He's actually my favourite at the stables. I love him, he was in my wedding pictures."

Solaris Spectrum  ($113) signing off on a winning note in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race (1400m) was anything but a surefire thing, though, going on his recent lacklustre form. He last won in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on January 26, 2018, with his ratings plummeting from 80 to 65 in a losing sequence of 16 runs.

But replacement rider Riduan Abu Bakar (incidentally coming back from a three-month suspension), filling in for Chin Chee Seng, listened to Bailey's instructions to a tee to winning effect.

"Solaris likes the wet. I told Nik (Riduan) to jump him out and go forward and dictate. He's a real trier," said Bailey.

"He's won from behind before, but he's better when he does his own things. It's good for the kid as he's back from suspension, that will give him a nice kickalong."

Riduan was obviously delighted he had marked his return with a visit straight back to the winner's circle after his long time on the sidelines.

Mark Walker's Kelantan-born and New Zealand-trained apprentice jockey had been a major revelation since his Kranji debut this year, scooping up 10 wins in a three-month blitz, that was, however, cut short in June when he incurred the Stewards' wrath.

"I have to thank Mr Shane Baertschiger for the pick-up ride," said Riduan.

"He led nicely. At the 800m, I controlled the speed as I wanted to save as much energy as possible.

"At the 500m, I used my stick as I was looking for good ground to keep him going.

"In the last 400m, I just rode him out and he won a nice race. It's good to be back a winner at my first day back."

With neither of his two original bookings, Rooter and Sacred Sea, saluting, Riduan will surely thank his lucky stars for the victorious comeback thanks to a chance ride on a horse who happened to be at his farewell race.

Solaris Spectrum bows out with a handy record of seven wins, five seconds and five thirds for stakes earnings in excess of $410,000 for the Chen Kwong Stable.