Despite not commanding as many rides as fashionable names like Wong Chin Chuen, Zawari Razali or Troy See, Malaysian apprentice jockey Krisna Thangamani has somehow snuck his way into the Top Five on the Singapore apprentice jockey log this year.

It’s not really a big surprise as the former Kuala Lumpur-based rider did show at his first season at Kranji last year that he could ride even if still a little rough around the edges. He booted home two winners (Mighty Emperor and Perfect P) and was placed four times in 21 rides.

But Ricardo Le Grange’s apprentice jockey fell off the radar in the new season. Rides became scarce so much so he only rode his first winner Solaris Spectrum for trainer Shane Baertschiger at only his second ride on January 26.

Solaris Spectrum (Krisna Thangamani, inside) gets the upperhand of favourite Super Fortune (Olivier Placais)
in a driving finish on January 26, picture Singapore Turf Club

His low record of 12 rides two months into the 2018 season tells the story. He sits above only five other apprentice jockeys in terms of rides, while the other dozen have been booked more regularly – some as many as 65 rides (current leader See).

Still, Krisna has managed to boot home two winners to share the highest strike rate of 16.7% with Zawari, the second one coming with Land Below D Wind (again for Baertschiger) last Saturday on Fortune Bowl day. He currently sits in fifth spot, three wins behind See.

The former Richard Lines-indentured apprentice jockey won’t win any body-building contest, but horses seem to run for him. And the 24-year-old Penangite is not without some tactical nous either.

On $220 outsider Solaris Spectrum, Krisna was locked in a ding-dong battle with hot favourite Super Fortune (Olivier Placais), before he eventually coaxed his mount hands and heels to the line.

Land Below D Wind was, on the other hand, the $17 favourite in his race, a Class 5 race over 1400m. At the 400m, it looked like Krisna had fluffed his lines – he was caught in traffic and was too far back.

But Krisna did not panic as he went looking for daylight by switching across heels shortly after straightening. When a gap came up at the 300m, Land Below D Wind was finally able to go through his gears as he came sailing home for a half-length win.

“To be honest, I wasn’t very confident Land Below D Wind could win at the top of the straight. I had to take him to the outside, and luckily he found a gap,” said Krisna.

“Mr Baertschiger told me he had a nice turn of foot, and he just flew home in the last 100m.

“Hopefully, that latest win will help me get more support and opportunities. I am still learning and the only way to learn is to get as many rides as possible.”

Unfortunately, it would appear his two 2018 wins do not seem to have done much to raise his stock. He has only one ride on Friday night – Barnato for Le Grange in the $60,000 Class 4 Premier race over 1200m.

“I have only one ride tomorrow, Barnato. I’ve ridden the horse three times; he’s not a bad horse,” he said.

“He is down in class and he has drawn a nice barrier (two). I’ll try my best.”