Never mind that the young Singaporean apprentice jockey had to wait for close to another nine months to get his second career win atop Sun Palace  in the $30,000 Emperor Max 2016 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race (1400m) since his first on the Kuah Cheng Tee-trained Maximilian last September, Faiz showed that he had a better grasp of racing than before.

After dropping to last from barrier seven, Faiz quickly brought Sun Palace next to the rails and followed the pack, staying just ahead of On Line (Ibrahim Mamat).

Faiz bidded his time while Malibu Beach (Bernardo Pinheiro) and See Yah (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) vied for the lead upfront. Turning for home, Mo Almighty (Manoel Nunes) peeled out for his run and that was when Faiz had to think on his feet.

He took the six-year-old son of Dansili to the inside and two big gaps showed up in front. Faiz knew Sun Palace ($75) had picked up the momentum then, so he needed no invitation to go for the opening between Atlas (Matthew Kellady) and Star Victory (Saifudin Ismail) at the 250m.

Sun Palace quickened through it and sprinted away to a two-length win from On Line, who took the widest route home. His partner, Ibrahim, is now the only rider who has yet to open his account in Kranji this season. Star Victory finished another three parts of a length away in third.

The winning time was 1 min 22.09secs for the 1400m on the Short Course. 

Faiz revealed that his three previous associations with Sun Palace helped and he also studied the video replay of his last win with jockey Iskandar Rosman on board in a similar race two starts ago.

"That was my fourth time riding him but my first win on him," said Faiz of his 49th ride this year.

"When I rode him for the first time last year (in a Class 4 race over 1600m on January 8), I only started out as an apprentice jockey so I still don't know racing so well.

"That ride caused me a bit of trouble because I was given a warning by the stewards (for not straightening his mount earlier prior to an incident near the 200m). He ran fifth then.

"After that, I finished third on him (in a similar race on February 19 a month later).

"I also watched the replay on how Iskandar won on him. He sat behind then.

"I did that, just let him run and not disturb him. In the straight, I wanted to go out but Nunes already went out, so I stayed inside.

"I saw a gap at the 300m, so I took that and let him go through. He went good."

The main bulk of his rides came from his master trainer Koh and Kuah, albeit there were also one or two odd rides from other trainers from time to time. Chances to ride in races were less for apprentice jockeys like him, much less do winning rides come by.

"I don't really have many chances (to ride in races). I will ride trackwork for other trainers when I can, like for CT (Cheng Tee) who supported me with a lot of rides," he said.

"It's not easy, but I'm relieved that I don't have to wait for another year to get another win."

Koh's assistant-trainer, Leong Yoon Fei said that Faiz had been honing his skills well.

"The four-kilo claim helped and Faiz had been improving," said the ex-jockey.

"He rode him before and as Desmond's apprentice jockey, we ought to give him a chance.

"The plan was to sit off the pace and let the horse go through the gap in between horses in the straight. He rode him very well.

"Hopefully this win can help him to improve even further."

That third win in 24 starts took Sun Palace's earnings to over $60,000 for the Sun Bloodstock Racing Stable.