Luck has not always been on local trainer Mok Zhan Lun’s side this season, but he certainly had things go his way in the $35,000 Open Maiden Division 2 race over 1400m on Friday night.

Before the event, the Singaporean handler gave Postponed four-year-old Majulah a mild chance to shed his maiden status going with his encouraging last two starts when he ran in the money, but still thought it would be hard to beat favourite Sahaba.

But after the Saimee Jumaat-trained galloper broke through to go on a riderless joyride and was later scratched, Mok could begin to believe in win No 15 a bit more.



Majulah (Barend Vorster, on the outside) loses out by half-a-length to Silent Prince (Syafiq Hazman) in Race 2 but eventually gets his win back in the Stewards' room, picture Singapore Turf Club

The race itself went without a hitch with jockey Barend Vorster not panicking despite coursing out three deep, waiting for the last 400m to set Majulah ($27) alight right on the outside.

Granted, Majulah did not put the race away despite having acres of land ahead of him. Instead, he seemed to be going up and down on the one spot as he got locked away in a four-way go across the track, seemingly fighting out the finish with Silent Prince (Syafiq Hazman) on his nearside.

But then, the latter lost his marbles shortly after he hit the front at the 250m. He first veered sharply into runners on his inside before cannoning off to drift sideways towards the standside, this time sweeping Majulah right across at least five lanes in the process.

Upon dismounting, Vorster unsurprisingly fired in a protest, which was quickly upheld at a straightforward hearing, given the clear-cut interference his horse suffered even if the beaten margin was half-a-length.

“The other horse took his momentum. When you are dealing with such average horses, a knock like that will stop them right off,” said the South African jockey.

“Like I said during the inquiry, look where we were at the start and look where we finished – the outside rails.

“He covered a lot of ground and still did well to get beaten only half-a-length (by Silent Prince). He hit the line full of running and that loss of momentum cost him the race.

“I’m happy for Mok that I was able to ride a winner for him, even if it was in the Stewards’ room. Winners are grinners!”

Given the increasingly competitive racing at Kranii, Mok was certainly not complaining about the latest addition to his tally: A 15th winner even if it was gained off the track.

“I thought we had a chance after the favourite was scratched. And then luck was again with me in the Stewards’ room.” he said.

“I was quite confident as this horse (Majulah) has a nice running action and has a fair bit of ability.

“He takes a while to warm up but once he did, he got pushed out. It probably cost him two lengths. It was a fair result in the end.”

The winning time was 1min 25.03secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.