By Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
Going on past experience, Oscar Chavez would rather not make a song and dance about his riding double at Sunday’s opening meeting to the 2022 season at Kranji.
The 1,200-race winner has been around the block long enough to know one swallow doesn’t a summer make.
Besides, he’s not alone as he is currently tied at the top with three other jockeys (Danny Beasley, Shafiq Rizuan and Tengku Rehaizat) who pulled off a similar brace, but he was still glad he’d got on the scoresheet sooner rather than later.
“The two winners (Angel Halo and Den Of Thieves) were my two best chances. I thought Star Empire was also a good chance, but he got beat (second to Runminderbinderrun),” said Chavez.
“I had nine rides and I was actually suffering towards the end of the meeting. I’m grateful to the Stewards for allowing me to take my last ride (Den Of Thieves) one kilo over (from 51 to 52kgs).
“I’m happy to start the new season with two winners, and get the monkey off my back early. Hopefully, the good run continues.”
Unfortunately, he had to contend with a rather playful monkey last year.
At his comeback from a three-year absence, the Panamanian-born jockey also got off to a bright start, boasting three winners on the board in January and the strong backing of trainer Cliff Brown.
The upward curve, however, went pear-shaped faster than he could say ‘caramba’. Brown’s sudden return to Australia cut the ground from under Chavez’s feet, he was thrown back to the familiar old grind of chasing rides as a freelance rider.
To rub salt in the wound, he broke his thumb while fixing a fence at home in February. Doctor’s verdict was two months at least.
Just when he thought he had turned the corner with a renaissance of sorts, he was hurled a few more curveballs he couldn’t parry.
The veteran rider did return in April, and did well to finish fifth on 28 winners, but typical of some of his previous seasons, it was more peaks and valleys than a steady stream.
For example, the first half was pretty quiet, other than May and a lone spike of a four-timer in June, while the second half only gained traction towards the last three months.
Fast closing onto 30 years in Singapore, Chavez, 47, needs little introduction at Kranji, but he’s never really had a leading trainer behind, especially in the last decade or so, and this explains that – the journeyman profile.
Hence, his motto you’re only as good as your last win, and right now, Sunday’s winners are already in the archives.
Chavez has already shifted into gear to this Saturday’s book where two horses from his eight rides stand out to him – South Of The River and debutant My Man, albeit more for personal reasons than as a winning chance for the latter.
Chavez has worked with the Argentinian-bred four-year-old sprinter from the day he landed at Jason Lim’s yard. He has a lot of time for the grey son of Key Deputy (known as Splendid Key in Argentina where he won four from six, both on dirt and turf, including two at Group 3 level), but sounded tentative about his first-up prospects in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1100m where he will take on the likes of Entertainer, Siam Warrior and Be Bee, among others.
“My Man came back well after hurting himself twice. He’s always been quite naughty, biting his syce and all that, and then he climbed onto his box and got hurt,” said Chavez.
“We gelded him, but when he came back, he was so fresh he again hurt himself in his box. He kicked the wall and his back legs were swollen.
“Jason has taken it easy with him, and knew he couldn’t run him last year and kept him for 2022.
“We trialled him last week for a harder gallop (December 28 when second to Limited Edition after leading), and he had his final gallop this morning (Tuesday).
“I still feel he may need the run, he’s not at his best yet. To me, he’s fit enough to race, but I’m not sure if he’s fit enough to win.
“I think he’s the type of horse who shows more in his races than in trackwork, even if his trial was much better.
“This Saturday, we’ll see what’s in there. He may not be 100% fit, but he had to race some day and we’ll then find out what is happening.
“He’s a horse who can run close to the speed or midfield, he’s won either way, and he can come from anywhere if we look at his racing pattern in Argentina.”
Chavez is visibly more excited about South Of The River, a commanding barrier trial winner on December 28, even if he gets a leg-up by default.
The Statue Of Liberty four-year-old was a hot favourite at his Kranji debut in a Novice race over 1200m on Singapore Gold Cup day last November, but overraced and was well beaten.
The way he bounced on the bunny at his barrier trial before effortlessly skipping clear when Manoel Nunes cut the ribbons is a clear indication the break has done him a power of good, and it’s doubtful his admirers would not forgive him at his second start in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1000m.
“I saw South Of The River’s trial when he won by 12 lengths. You can’t take nothing away from that trial, it was very impressive,” said Chavez.
“I have to thank Michael Clements for putting me on after Louis (Philippe Beuzelin) was suspended. Nunes was already committed to another horse (Gold Cut, second on debut for Tim Fitzsimmons).
“I’m lucky I got the ride. He should be a top chance.”
