Monday, 19 August 2019: French jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin franked the good impression he left at his Kranji debut on Friday by getting on the board two days later thanks to Universal Empire in the $75,000 Twickenham 2016 & 2017 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1000m.

Universal Empire winning the RESTRICTED MAIDEN

Two thirds (Lucky Tiger and Majestic Empress) from three rides at his opening meeting were the next best result a debuting rider could have hoped for after a fairytale start, but it was the Barbadian-raised rider's strong vigorous style that certainly drew the most nods of approval all round.

Boasting some famous names from European/English horse racing as his mentors, namely fellow Barbadian Sir Michael Stoute, Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore, the 28-year-old didn't take long to translate that polish into a maiden victory at the next meeting.

Universal Empire   ($30) was slated as his first ride on Sunday, but it became his second assignment for the day after he finished unplaced on pick-up ride My Miracle in the first race.

"This is brilliant. I love the place, I love Singapore," he said at his first Kranji post-race interview.

"Hopefully, there will be more winners after this one. This is what I'm here for."

A globetrotting winner of over 300 races in France, Barbados, US, Europe and India, among others, Beuzelin probably had that new feather to his international cap sealed when he decided to utilise Universal Empire's natural speed to take up the running from an outside gate.

He later said that even though the Moshe colt could not cut back onto the rail, and had to face the breeze throughout, leading was better than being one of the followers.

In the home straight, Universal Empire, who also had Beer Garden (Joseph See) on his outside and keeping him as the meat in the sandwich, resolutely went for broke at the 300m. Beer Garden tried to tack on and peg him back, but to no avail.

Universal Empire stuck on gamely to open his account by 1 ¼ lengths from Beer Garden with Qiji Diamond (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) third another half-length away. The winning time was 59.75secs for the 1000m speed scamper.

"He's still very babyish. That's why I didn't want to bustle him up too much," said Beuzelin.

"I was not worried he could not cross (with Gold Coast and John Sundradas railing through from a better barrier to keep him away). He's a 1200m horse and I knew he would still have a kick left in him.

"There was a lot of kickback out there, and we were better off in front. He did it nicely, even if he was waiting for the others, and was begging for the line in the end.

"I thought Donna Logan's horse (Qiji Diamond) would be hard to beat, but he's put his best foot forward today."

Previously known as Back To Life in Australia before being renamed by his new owner, Mr Chen Chong Whay in Singapore, Universal Empire has already picked up around $50,000 in prizemoney with that first Kranji hurrah, which was incidentally ringing up an early race-to-race double for trainer Alwin Tan.

The Singaporean handler has now taken his season's tally to 23 winners courtesy of an earlier win from Super Emperor (Matthew Kellady, $30) in the opener, the $30,000 Elite Excalibur 2018 Stakes, a Class 5 race over 1100m.