After a first look around on Friday night, Australian jockey Beau Mertens didn’t take long to get aboard his first winner in Singapore with the well-backed Molineux at Sunday’s meeting.
At his first visit at Kranji, the 21-year-old Melbourne rider is licensed for only those two days to make up for a shortage of jockeys due to suspensions.
The son of Group 1-winning jockey Peter Mertens did not have first-rate chances on Friday, but still gave a peek of his ability with a fighting third on Mongolian Chief and a smack-up fifth on Hunting Tower in the last.
Visiting jockey Beau Mertens claims his first victory in Singapore aboard Molineux on Sunday.
Booked for seven rides on Sunday, Mertens did not waste any time by getting right on the money at his very first assignment in the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1600m.
Dropping the Savabeel four-year-old in the rear bunch, Mertens only got busy before cornering, angling his mount to the outside for his launch. With daylight ahead, Molineux produced the fastest sectionals inside the last 200m to head home towards his first win from six starts that had thus far produced a second place as his best result.
Alamak (Glen Boss) stormed home from the rear to run second another 1 ½ lengths away with Silent Prince (Matthew Kellady) third, separated by an identical margin. Molineux, who was punted down to $24 favouritism late, clocked the winning time of 1min 36.47secs for the mile on the Short Course.
“I’m pretty rapt I got my first winner in Singapore today. A big thanks to Matty Hyland who gave me the call-up,” said Mertens, a winner of 250 races back home and who finished a close runner-up to multiple-champion jockey Craig Williams in the Melbourne premiership in 2016/2017 when still an apprentice jockey.
“Today, we are on the A course which is so different from the E course on Friday. You have a long straight and you have more time to get to the line.
“I was just learning to find my way around on Friday, and came close a couple of times.
“Today, the horse (Molineux) presented himself very well. I was told not to ride him too close to the speed early, even if I was maybe a couple of pairs further back.
“He had every chance, and once I got stuck into him when he got into the clear, he finished off very well.”
With winning trainer Stephen Gray away at the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO’s in Training Sale, it was left to racing manager Craig Geehman to do the honours at the winner’s circle.
“It’s terrific for Beau. He rode the horse patiently and it’s terrific for the horse and the St George Stable as well, as Paul Hickman has been such a great supporter of the stable for so long,” said Geehman who mainly looks after the social media aspect and horse owner relations at the stable.
“The boss is at the Gold Coast looking for the next champion. In the last six or seven weeks, we’ve had winners every week, even doubles.
“Horses have turned the corner and they are going great guns.”
With that maiden success, Molineux has now brought up close to $50,000 in stakes earnings for the St George Stable.
