ARIGATO SAYS THANK YOU FOR THE COMPANY

Former Kranji gallopers War Star, Flying Fighter also show their wares in the trials

- Brian Miller

Arigato looked to be saying "thank you" to his rivals when winning the morning's opening trial at Sungai Besi on Feb 18.

Ridden by senior track rider Mohd Ekdihar, Arigato was the most impressive of the six winners of the day.

Indeed, after taking the lead from the get-go, he never handed it back.

He seemed to relish the yielding going and, when push did come to shove at the furlong mark, Arigato could have also thrown in "sayonara" as he lengthened strides.

He eventually coasted in with three lengths to spare. Trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong's Dancing Supremo slotted into second spot, half a length ahead of the Simon Dunderdale-trained Bransom.

A six-year-old by Charm Spirit, Arigato clocked a smart time of 1min 0.85sec. It turned out to be the fastest of the morning.

Prepared by Lim Shung You, Arigato is certainly a galloper going places.

An expensive purchase at the sales - he went under the hammer for NZ$150,000 (S$115,000) as a two-year-old - and plying his trade mostly in Macau, Arigato raced 26 times for nine wins.