Trainer Patrick Shaw made his only runner of the night count on Friday when Rafaello bounced back to the winner’s circle in style in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m.

The slashing win from the Oratorio three-year-old also brought up a much-needed shot in the arm for his pilot, Nooresh Juglall, who was at a fine riding double, snapping a run of outs that began since Raise No Doubt last scored on May 15.

Juglall earlier saluted aboard the Mok Zhan Lun-trained Savage Storm in the preceding race, the $38,000 Kranji Stakes D Division 1 race over 1100m.

Rafaello (Nooresh Juglall) strides away to a fourth win on Friday night.

The Mauritian jockey said he had a hunch his lean spell could come to an end on Friday, especially with Rafaello ($18), a horse he knows inside out for having now partnered him at all his four wins.

The combination did not quite spark up at their Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge campaign, but Juglall and the Shaw camp thought they had valid excuses.

“He had too rushed a preparation in the 3YO series. After the first Leg (12th to Conflight), he ran again within two weeks,” said Juglall.

“It wasn’t a bad run (third to Lim’s Rally), but then, he again raced two weeks later. He also had a respiratory problem after the Singapore Guineas.

“He’s come back from a short layoff (26 days) and I think the winkers helped him as well tonight. He’s a jump-and-go type of horse and with the speed in tonight’s race, he needed them.

“He was a lot more concentrated and he did a great job in the end.”

Shaw’s assistant-trainer Ricardo Le Grange praised Juglall’s ride but also recognised “nothing went right” at the gelding’s last 3YO prep.

“Nothing went right in the 3YO races. I think coming back to the 1200m tonight was key to the win,” said the South African.

“He was sharper with the winkers and it was a well-deserved win. He’s a honest horse and Nooresh gave him a very good ride, too.

“It’s great for (owner) Fred (Crabbia), and Pat as it was our only runner for tonight.”

Juglall said the recent quiet time had started to jangle the nerves a little, but he could finally heave a sigh of relief after Savage Storm caused a $114 surprise in the $38,000 Kranji Stakes D Division 1 race over 1100m, but it was not really a surprise to him.

“I thought he had a chance down in class tonight. Mok was also confident he could run better in a Kranji Stakes D race,” said Juglall.

“I gave him a quiet patient ride and it’s paid off. Good to get a winner again after the quiet spell and here I have to thank Mok and the owners for their support.

“And a big thank you to Pat and Fred for their support on Rafaello. I’ve always liked this horse from Day 1 and tonight we saw the real Rafaello.”