Former jockey Luke Danis’ son Darren has got off to a good start to his dream to follow into his famous father’s footsteps after he booted home his first riding double at Rotorua, New Zealand on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Singaporean opened the eight-race programme with a win on Shellez Ace for trainer Karyn McQuade before making it back-to-back at his next ride, aboard Liquid Inspiration for his masters Wayne and Vanessa Hillis. Both well-backed horses began from a wide alley to sit outside the lead before being ridden to the line by Danis.

The three-kilo claimer had three more rides, coming up with two thirds on Ticket To Ride and Deluxe Edition. The two winners have now brought his 2016/2017 season tally to eight wins, eight seconds and 14 thirds from 103 rides to sit in 67th spot on the national log for a performance the lanky rider is more than happy with given the long time it took for him to find his feet.

“I’m very happy I rode my first career double yesterday. It was a very good day at the office as I also rode two thirds at a track which I was actually riding at for the first time,” said Danis who obtained his New Zealand apprentice jockey’s licence in October 2015.

“It’s taken me a while to settle in and ride my first winner in New Zealand. When I started in the summer of 2015, it was very tough to compete against the seniors and even the apprentices as they know all the tips and tricks about the tracks.

“In Kranji, there is only one track, but here, there are so many tracks and they are all different, long straight, short straight, they go one way, the Hong Kong way (the Singapore way of saying right-handed).

“But I kept working hard, riding trackwork and trials, in races three times a week. And this double could not have motivated me more to keep learning and improving.”

Danis said he could have charted the same career path as most budding jockeys at Kranji, which is to be indentured to a trainer and hope for support for race rides, but he went for the overseas option instead.

“I came to New Zealand on my own in 2014. It was my former master Brian Dean who advised me to come here to gain more experience,” said Danis who rode as a C apprentice jockey and had already clocked in some barrier trials at Kranji before leaving.

“Laurie Laxon recommended trainer Ken Kelso as my first master. I stayed there for 10 months and then moved to Wayne and Vanessa Willis in Matamata and I’ve been there since.

“Dad also helps me a lot. I always call him after a meeting just to report to him how I went, and we would go through my rides together. He would tell me where I went wrong, but yeah, he was very happy with the double yesterday.”

When asked if he had modelled himself after his father, who is now a trainer in Kuala Lumpur, Danis said he was not quite a chip off the old block, but he does try and pick up a few elements from him as well as around him, and blend them in into his own personal style that he hopes is effective.

“Dad is more old school, like keep your knees in at the withers. I have been trying to work in some of his stuff and the new trends that I’ve picked up here from both my master and other jockeys. Dad just told me to go with what I’m comfortable with as long as I form one with the horse,” he said.

“As I’m quite tall, there are a few adjustments I have to make to get the right fit, but it seems to be working all right. Surprisingly, my weight is stable at 52kgs and I eat quite well, too.”

Danis said he does not really feel homesick as his riding career is his priority, and besides, he has also met his significant other there.

“I love it here. It also helps I have a Danish girlfriend Mette here, she is my biggest supporter,” said Danis.

“There are only Zy (Nor Azman) and Khalid Marzuki who also ride up here. I don’t get to see the other Singaporeans (Firdhaus Rafi, Ruzaili Yatim and Syahir Abdul) as they are down on the South Island.

“I ride here in the North and the furthest I have been to is the Central Districts. But I do know the Kranji boys are doing very well, too.

“It’s been a tough learning curve, but the greater exposure to racing is a big advantage. Singapore is still home after all and that’s where I want to establish my career eventually, but I think I still need a few more years here before I come home.”