Daniel Moor may not have yet hit the ground running at his new turf, but he has already beaten a record of sorts at Kranji.
From memory, no expat rider has been licensed five times in Singapore in less than one year.
Technically, it’s seven months, since racing closed shop in December and his first nod came at the end of September. Close on his tail is Perth prodigy William Pike – three visits in six months.
But the Warrnambool-born Moor sees the fifth stint as the landmark visit. The first four came at one-day or two-day cameos, but no doubt, they whetted his appetite for more – he is this time licensed for six months, with his first meeting as a longer-term jockey kicking off this Friday.
The 33-year-old might not have sent the win-meter into overdrive at his earlier pitstops – Skywalk in December and Bangkok Boy at his last raid at the Group 3 Fortune Bowl meeting on Feb 17 – but he believes networking is key to success.
“I’m very thankful with the fly-in and fly-out visits, but it’s not ideal as there are no obligations for trainers and owners to put you on,” said Moor.
“This time it’s different. I will get to ride trackwork, give feedback, chase for rides, basically develop associations with the horses.
“You need to work on project horses to stay for the long run. Hopefully, that will help me get an eye-in here.”
Moor, who was enjoying one of his most prolific seasons in Victoria before he packed his bags said he would go knocking on doors for rides, even if existing ties – past and recently-built – may form the core to kick things off.
“Obviously, I’ve had a good association with Lee Freedman and his brothers back home, but I will be spreading myself around for everyone,” said the natural lightweight jockey who can ride at 50kgs.
“That’s what you need to do to be successful as a freelance jockey. I will do the hard yards, make myself available and hopefully, things will work out well.”
Taking up the jockey’s craft in 2005, Moor was a former leading Victorian apprentice jockey who has carved his niche mainly on the provincial or country circuit, bagging in excess of 700 winners in 13 years of riding.
The Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes, and Group 2 W H Stocks Stakes, Group 3 D C McKay Stakes and Group 3 Tasmanian Derby and nine other "black type" races figure among his highest achievements.
His last major feature came in the Listed Golden Mile aboard Dodging Bullets at Bendigo on April 7, but he is probably better remembered for becoming the first jockey since Craig Williams on Anzac Day 2013 to win the quaddie at a Melbourne city track in Caulfield on April 14.
Just to illustrate how Moor will be sorely missed by not just your average mug punter in Australia but also trainers and owners, he has this season ridden 65 winners to sit in 12th spot on the Victorian log, with around two and a half months still left to go. Last year, he rode 66 winners in the 2016/2017 season.
Moor is aware he is leaving Melbourne on a high, but he definitely won’t miss the cold with the lure of international riding outstripping everything else.
“I’ve always enjoyed riding overseas and Singapore is one of the emerging racing jurisdictions in the world. I will also run away from the cold!” said Moor who has also ridden in Malaysia, Mauritius, China and Korea.
“I really enjoyed the previous visits even if they were too short. They have also given me a bit of an edge, as opposed to coming in from the cold.
“No doubt, it took me a while to read the form as you can’t really compare to the ones we have in Australia.
“But I’ve been able to see the nuances of racing here, the handicapping system, the horses and the different grades of races across the board. That should put me in good stead for the longer stay.”
Moor has every reason to be upbeat as he has already drawn plenty of support if his healthy book of three rides on Friday (My Big Boss – ironically for Freedman! – Phuket and Lim’s Dashing) and five rides on Sunday (Larry, Honor, Petite Voix, Soldado and Rich Beauty) is anything to go by.
