For some trainers, any win is a big win, especially when it’s the first for the season.

Such was the case for Patrick Fong, who couldn’t contain his delight after his charge Amy The Butcher passed the post in front last Saturday (March 13), following three credible efforts to start the year.

Amy The Butcher endured a stuttering start to her career last year, failing to place in five starts as a two-year-old.

Then, the three-year-old filly ( Deputy Glitters – Asia’s Dream) placed second by a half-length to Johncrowjeff at 5 ½ furlongs on January 9, followed by a three-length third-place finish behind King’s Magician at five furlongs round on February 6.

Her last race on February 28 with Trevor “Slicer” Simpson travelling 5 ½ furlongs also yielded another third-place finish.

Fong, in his wisdom, decided to throw the filly in unfamiliar territory at 6 ½ furlongs and she fought on gamely to win at odds of 13-1.

“I am very pleased; she has been running some very good races but just couldn’t win and today (Saturday) she broke through and scored a good win. This is also my first winner for the year, so I am a very happy man right now,” Fong said.

Fong also heaped praises for jockey Jordan Barrett.

“He rode her ( Amy The Butcher) before, so he knows her a bit and he listens when I talk to him about race tactics. I told him where to hold her and when to move her and he rode her perfectly. So again, I am happy with the win,” Fong said.

After a clean break from the number three draw, Barrett had Amy The Butcher well positioned as Unwritten Law (Javaniel Patterson), Ianzha Links (Dick Cardenas) and Khai Alexis went at it in the early exchanges.

Leaving the half-mile the tempo increased as Amy The Butcher and Khai Alexis got into top stride along with Hilly’s Vision and Heavenly Glitter entering the fray as they turned for home.

Khai Alexis got a perfect run on the inside rails, but Amy The Butcher drew alongside and the two briefly lock horns heading to the furlong pole with Heavenly Glitter and Hilly’s Vision closing in.

But Barrett and Amy The Butcher found extra to separate themselves from the pack, winning by 1 ½ lengths. The final time was 1:22.2 with splits of 23.4, 48.2, and 1:14.4.

Khai Alexis stayed on for second, with Heavenly Glitter third .

Though holding no expectations where Classic contention is concerned, Fong is optimistic that Amy The Butcher will improve sufficiently as time progresses.

“Right now, I don’t have any personal expectations, because I think she has some ways to go and needs a little more ground before I can say what she is really capable of,” Fong ended.