Underrated jockey Zuriman Zulkifli finally had luck on his side after he scored aboard a pick-up ride on Friday night.
Once regarded as one of Kranji’s best homegrown young riders, the Malaysian was, however, dealt a lousy hand when he suffered brain injury in a race fall from Hammer Down in March 2016.
A fully-recovered Zuriman made a riding comeback later in the year, but opportunities, let alone wins have been as rare as hen’s teeth.
Avengers Hero (Zuriman Zulkifli) holds off Imdragon (Krisna Thangamani, No 9) to open his account
in Race 4, picture Singapore Turf Club
Up until Friday, the 31-year-old had only three wins to show for since his return to the Kranji riding ranks – one in 2016, Murdoch, and two in 2017, Lucky Coin and Lively Dragon, the latter scored on May 12.
It’s therefore been more than eight months since his last visit to the winner’s circle, but Zuriman did not fail to give Kranji racegoers – trainers and owners included - a reminder of his riding ability aboard chance ride Avengers Hero in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1600m.
The Kelantan-born jockey had never sat on the Trusting colt before, but from the way Troy See’s (could not make the weight of 53.5kgs) replacement acquitted himself by dashing to the front never to relinquish the lead, he might not have been at his last sit on that horse.
Even if he does not, there is every chance he will from now on get more rides from trainer Alwin Tan, who besides being known for being a good supporter of local talent, has now shown another facet: Good memory.
“I have to admit I don’t book Zuriman very often, but I remember he won on Powerful Fighter for me once,” said Tan.
“So, we had luck before and I’m glad I picked him for the ride on Avengers Hero tonight. I’m also happy for him as he does not get many opportunities, and tonight was his night.”
Upon verification, the former Air Force regular was right on the mark about his last hurrah with Zuriman. The Malaysian rider was one of only two jockeys to have won on Powerful Fighter (other one was Joseph See) for Tan, on June 27, 2014, before he was exported to Malaysia where he won another three races for Richard Lines.
Zuriman does remember Powerful Fighter, and was certainly grateful to the 2016 Singapore champion trainer for the winning leg-up nearly four years later, albeit totally ad lib.
“It was nice to win on a pick-up ride. Big thanks to Alwin and the owners,” said Zuriman.
“This horse is still young and I think he needs more ground, probably 1400m to 1600m. He’s got big strides and he may even become a stayer and a Gold Cup horse one day.
“I was very happy with the way he was travelling once I got to the front. He got a bit tired towards the end, but he held on.”
Imdragon (Krisna Thangamani) was closing in hand over fist on the outside, but Avengers Hero ($80) responded to Zuriman’s forceful and yet stylish whip-riding to last out by one-quarter length. Brimstone (Azhar Ismail) ran third another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 37.5secs for the mile on the Short Course.
Zuriman is aware one swallow does not a summer make, but there is that new hope his textbook handling of Avengers Hero would put his name back on the map.
“It’s been tough in my final year as an apprentice. I have to keep working hard,” said trainer Bruce Marsh’s former apprentice jockey.
“I am now a senior rider and still claim one kilo, and ride mostly for Leslie Khoo, but I hope I can also get more support from other trainers.”
Tan said that the rather unexpected win has saved Avengers Hero, who ran out of the placings at his previous three starts, from going under the knife in the area where manhood is hurt the most - the nether regions.
“He is a big horse and is still a colt. I was actually thinking of castrating him, but I have changed my mind now,” said Tan.
“He is a one-pacer and I will put him over a bit of a distance from now on.”
