Fairway's Turf Online

Treble takes Firdaus to the top

SINGAPORE: Feb 21, 2016

KAM'S COMET winning easily in spite of a slipped saddle - SNTC photo

Vlad Duric, who drew blank on Friday evening in his comeback to Singapore racing, was off the mark when he piloted GOLD CROWN to victory in the Kranji Stakes D, Div 2 - 1400m race at Kranji here this afternoon.

But the Australian jockey, who spent three successful years in Singapore between 2009 and 2011 and finished runner-up twice to Joao Moreira, had to share honours in the set-weight event with Mohd Firdaus astride KNOW EACH OTHER.

Duric went on to notch an outright win on PUSAKA two races later to celebrate his first two successes on a two-month riding stint.

But Firdaus, returning to action after serving a two-day suspension for careless riding, enjoyed a better afternoon when he went on to boot home two more winners in KAM'S COMET and SINGSURAT.

The very promising KAM'S COMET was notching his seventh win in 13 starts in the Benchmark 89 - 1100m sprint on the polytrack, romping home by 2 1/4 lengths in the main event despite his saddle having slipped during the race.

"KAM'S COMET is a very nice horse I rode at his last start (finishing fifth). The field was too strong but today, he was in easier company,” said Firdaus, who was second to Rueven Ravindra in the Malaysian apprentice table in 2013.

"I only noticed the saddle had shifted after the winning post. I never felt uncomfortable during the race and was able to push him right out to the line."

The treble took Firdaus to the top of the apprentice table on eight winners.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	MAIDEN - 1200M
1	NIGHT FLIGHT	M Freedman	Chavez	1
	(4 b.e.g Naaqoos - Laqataat by Alhaarth)
3	Swinglowsweetjacky	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
9	Heavenly Gift	T Kieser	K Toh	3
10	Volcano	D Koh	Saifudin	4

2	INITIATION - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4	MR LUCK	D Koh	Woodworth	1
	(4 b.am.g Kitten's Joy - Atlantic Beauty by Stormy Atlantic)
5	Prechagorda	O'Hara	A Munro	2
2	Mr Jackson	L Laxon	E Chaves	3
8	Eclair Moment	S Baertschiger	J Powell	4

3	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1400M
5	KNIGHT SPIRIT	D Koh	TH Koh	1
	(9 br.a.g Statue Of Liberty - Minstrel Lady by Jackson Square)
3	Perfect Challenger	HW Tan	T See	2
9	Rosegold	S Burridge	A Da Silva	3
7	Big Man	S Baertschiger	J Powell	4

4	INITIATION - 1400M
6	ROYAL EASTER	M Freedman	A Munro	1
	(3 ch.nz.g Thorn Park - Livonia by Last Tycoon)
4	The Wind	Khoo	Woodworth	2
7	Hussonator	C Brown	R Rueven	3
10	Pusong Pinoy	S Gray	V Duric	4

5	NOVICE - 1400M
5	ASTROJET	M Clements	A Da Silva	1
	(3 b.nz.g Coats Choice - Sparks Will Fly by Almutawakel)
8	Peer Gynt	M Clements	A Munro	2
7	Little Big Man	L Laxon	D Beasley	3
2	Damon	M Walker	Soo	4

6	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1400M
5	GOLD CROWN	C Brown	V Duric	1
	(4 b.ir.g Holy Roman Emperor - Medicean Star by Galileo)
12	KNOW EACH OTHER	P Shaw	MM Firdaus	1
	(4 b.a.g Hard Spun - Meet My Sis by Prized)
1	Warpath	S Baertschiger	Kellady	3
2	Constance's Spirit	O'Hara	A Munro	4
	*Dead-heat for 1st

7	BENCHMARK 89 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	KAM'S COMET	M Walker	MM Firdaus	1
	(4 br.nz.g Danroad - It's Spring Again by Last Tycoon)
4	Good News	HW Tan	Chavez	2
8	The General	P Shaw	B Vorster	3
9	Blue Diamond	HW Tan	T See	4

8	CLASS 4 - 1800M
5	PUSAKA	S Gray	V Duric	1
	(5 b.a.g Dane Shadow - Favourite Way by Strategic)
6	Higher Soul	H Takaoka	K A'Isisuhairi	2
4	Air Force One	S Burridge	J Powell	3
1	Eclipse Dancer	S Burridge	A Munro	4

9	BENCHMARK 74 - 1200M
5	SOLARIS SPECTRUM	S Baertschiger	Kellady	1
	(4 br.a.g Time Thief - Chloris by Scenic)
7	Golden Tomahawk	M Freedman	B Vorster	2
1	Reach For The Sun	D Koh	CC Wong	3
4	Golden Sword	C Brown	V Duric	4

10	KRANJI STAKES D - 1800M (POLYTRACK)
10	SINGSURAT	C Brown	MM Firdaus	1
	(4 b.a.g Where's That Tiger - Moondreamer by Danehill)
7	Hongchen	ZL Mok	Z Zuriman	2
11	Winning Star	Khoo	A Munro	2
5	Starperfect	S Baertschiger	J Powell	4
	*Dead-heat for 2nd

11	CLASS 4 - 1400M
2	FELAROF	S Burridge	D Beasley	1
	(4 br.a.g Tale Of The Cat - Morning Calm by Anabaa)
4	Asprey	M Walker	A Munro	2
9	The Dodger	S Gray	V Duric	3
7	Splendor	T Kieser	Soo	4