Promising apprentice jockey Amirul Ismadi returned a winner at his first weekend of riding in Singapore since completing a three-month apprenticeship in Tasmania.

Booked for nine rides over the Chinese New Year weekend, the Ipoh-born apprentice jockey had not had much luck on Saturday, and Sunday was shaping up as a blank day, too – right up till his very last ride: Hongchen.

The Saimee Jumaat-trained galloper was ringing up Amirul’s first Kranji winner – and his 25th overall - since Harveywallbanger on November 3. 

Hongchen hands apprentice jockey Amirul Ismadi his first win of the season, picture Singapore Turf Club

Amirul, who booted home seven winners in 89 rides in Tasmania, mainly for his master during his stint there, Hobart-based trainer Stuart Gandy, has now taken his career tally to 66 winners.

 

The son of former jockey-turned-trainer Ismadi Ismail and nephew of Malaysian multiple-champion jockey Azhar Ismail also rode 34 winners during his first four years of apprenticeship in Malaysia.

 

Showing great poise aboard Hongchen ($43) in the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1600m, Amirul bided his time in the box-seat until a gap appeared between Galileo’s Approach (Matthew Kellady) and the weakening Peer Gynt (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) at the top of the straight.

 

Once Amirul released the handbrakes, the Fully Fledged seven-year-old dashed through but had to contend with a win-hungry pack nipping at his heels inside the last 200m.

 

The fast-closing Gol Goal (John Powell) was the one who looked the most likely to reel him in, but had to in the end settle for second best, beaten three parts of a length away. Dream Big (Wong Chin Chuen) and Claudia’s Beauty (Ryan Curatolo) also threatened late, but could only grab the minors - third and fourth place respectively, both separated by a neck.

 

The winning time was 1min 35.9secs, a new Class record for the mile on the Short Course.

 

Amirul, whose best result from his previous eight Kranji rides was a second with Mr Mosa for his master Stephen Gray in Sunday’s Race 6, was rapt he did not return empty-handed at his riding comeback .

 

“Very happy to ride a winner at my first day back home, even if technically, today is the second day. Hopefully, it’ll bring more support and more winners from now on,” said Amirul.

 

“I had no luck for Mr Gray earlier – when I finished second on Mr Mosa. I’m very thankful for his support when I came back and also for encouraging me to spend three months in Tasmania.

 

“I’d also like to thank Saimee and the owners (Phan Nee No 3 Stable) for the winning ride. His instructions were to be in the top three or top four; I just sat and steered and once I got the gap, the horse went boom.”

 

There was no better judge of talent than the former eight-time Singapore champion jockey who was indeed very appreciative of Amirul’s handling of his third winner for the weekend. Saimee bagged two winners on Saturday with Q Nine Million and Boy Wonder, and now sits in seventh spot on the log on seven winners, five behind his former boss Steven Burridge.

 

“Amirul summed it up very well. With the good barrier draw (one) and as he was coming off a 1400m race, I told him to jump well and try and put himself in the box-seat,” said Saimee.

 

“They were able to do that, got the gap coming off the home turn and the horse did the rest. This horse has won three races for me now, not bad for an old horse.

 

“It’s been a great weekend for me with three winners. Gong Xi Fa Cai!”

 

Hongchen, who scored four of his wins for Mok Zhan Lun, has now amassed stakes money in excess of the $250,000 for his connections.