The Englishman, who finished eighth on 27 winners on the trainers' log last year, was the last of 23 trainers at Kranji to open his 2023 account with his 22nd runner, Star Legend, in the $20,000 Excelling 2020 Stakes, an Open Maiden race over 1200m.
The four-year-old son of Exosphere landed in mid-field on the rails upon despatch while newcomer River Dragon (Wong Chin Chuen) showed an abundance of speed upfront.
Tucked out three wide after jumping from barrier 10, favourite Tributo (Vlad Duric) crept up alongside Charmshaab (Ronnie Stewart) at the bend before sweeping out for his final assault in the straight.
Jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin got busy on Star Legend ($13) as the pair peeled out for the final showdown with Tributo. The former drew first blood at the 200m, but Tributo levelled up quickly under Duric's urgings.
Beuzelin was not about to let Peters' first winner slip by and he stuck on to his mount valiantly until they got up by a head from Tributo. Unfazed by a tardy getaway, debutant Schneider (Koh Teck Huat) flew home from last to finish another half-a-length away in third.
The winning time was 1min 10.09secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Among eight horses owned by the PSM Racing Stable and trained by Peters, Star Legend was the second one to score for connections, after they combined for their first fruitful association with Star Victory on November 5 last year.
The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series sounded like a far-fetched idea given this was only Star Legend's first win, but Peters will look to step the Australian gelding up in trip for future outings.
"He's just won a maiden (race) today, but I do think he's going to get better after he steps up to the 1400 and 1600m," said Peters.
"Pleased for the owner who supported me with a few young horses, and this one's got a lot of potential.
"We'll see what's available and maybe run him in a Novice or Class 4 race over 1400m in three to four weeks' time.
"He's a big, strong and mature horse so I think he can take his racing.
"It was a bit rushed (during his) last preparation to get him to the races (at his) last start, but he's trialled nicely in two trials.
"He's strong to the line and he had to fight. He's done a good job today.
"We've had a slow start, but with two seconds and two thirds, we knew the time would come. I'm just relieved that we won."
Beuzelin, who rode Star Legend to his last-start second (to Foxship) at his debut outing on November 13, held a high opinion of him, albeit he was not yet a finished article.
"The horse did all the work. From the inside barrier, we jumped out positive, but he's still got a lot to learn and (there's) room for improvement," said the French hoop.
"Luckily enough, there's quite a bit of pace. At the top of the straight, I gave him room but he was idling.
"He just took some time and at the last 100m, I was struggling to make up to Tributo, so I switched my whip (to the left side) and put my fella closer to Tributo and he kept finding.
"He has potential over longer distances and James is doing a magnificent job at getting them ready for the races.
"I ride him for work too. He's got the making and temperament of a good horse, very relaxed and laidback. I've always held him in high esteem from the start.
"We just need to get him to focus, but so far he's gotten everything right."
Bought as a yearling for A$155,000 at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Star Legend has now earned close to $15,000 in prizemoney for his local owner.
