Sun Ops scores impressive win on debut
  Story By Michael Lee     

Sunday, 28 February 2021: Former Sydney speedster Sun Ops blazed away to a sizzling win at his Kranji debut on Saturday.

SUN OPS winning the CLASS 4
SUN OPS winning the CLASS 4


A two-time winner over 900m in Newcastle when known as Covert Ops for the Sun Bloodstock and Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan, the I Am Invincible four-year-old, now known as Sun Ops, was a class above in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race (1000m).

Smartly ridden by Noh Senari, the Desmond Koh-trained newcomer made use of his early gate speed to come across for a forward berth outside pacesetter It's Got It All (Dennis Tan Zhi Xian). 

That was half the battle won for the $8 hotpot. Once they cornered for the run to the judge and his rider slipped some reins, it was all over bar the shouting (except there isn't much shouting in the empty stands these days).

Sun Ops   cleared out to a commanding break, which was cut back late by Cousteau (Marc Lerner) to two-and-a-half lengths with Sky Eye (Zyrul Nor Azman) third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was a slick 58.24secs, about the same time he clocked in his barrier trials.

"It was easy. In his trials, he did it all by himself in 58 seconds, beating a horse like Celavi at the last one (February 18)," said Noh.

"Everything went to plan. He did everything by himself, I just had to steer him in the right direction.

"A big thank you to Mr Desmond. He could have used a three-kilo claimer as it was his first start and was carrying 57.5kgs, but I told Desmond that I need to ride him at his first start.

"I knew on his gallops and trials he should win today."

Sun Ops is Koh's third winner for the year, and the second for the Sun Bloodstock Stable of Macau businessman Cheng Ting Kong after another 'Sun' horse Sun Trek won on debut. Unlike stablemate Sun Ops, Sun Trek was a maiden in five starts in Victoria for trainer David Hayes when he landed in Singapore.