By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
Fans of jockey Ronnie Stewart would have been over the moon to see the popular hoop back in the saddle this Saturday.
The laconic Australian hoop had not been seen at the races since August 28 after injuring his wrist when the Stephen Gray-trained Richaven became fractious and cast in the barriers before a Restricted Maiden race.
With the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) a little over three weeks away (November 19), Stewart – who has three Gold Cups to his name thanks to the Hideyuki Takaoka-trained El Dorado in 2008, 2009 and 2011 – has recovered just in time.
“The horse (Richaven) just went off in the gates,” said Stewart who has ridden 15 winners this year to sit tenth on the jockeys’ premiership.
“My wrist was sore but I carried on with two more rides. But when I tried to use the whip in my left hand on (trainer) Steve’s (Steven Burridge) horse (Graviton), I knew something wasn’t right.”
What went wrong was the tendon just below his left thumb. He thought he would be back in the saddle in a few weeks initially, who knew it took two months before getting back to the business he knows best.
“The doctor said I was a bit ambitious thinking I would get back to riding early, but I really thought I could get back well before the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth Cup (on October 15),” he said.
“I was a bit worried when it wasn’t improving but some jockeys who had similar injuries told me not to rush and it would get better with time; and they were right.
“My body was a bit sore after trackwork last week but the wrist is 100% and I’m all set to go.”
With his body finally in order, the job at hand this weekend is getting back into the winners’ circle and Stewart has five rides to do just that.
Last-start winner Happy Moment, who lines up in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1000m, looks a solid mount to get back into the rigours of race riding and Stewart – who is married to ex-Kranji jockey Sheryl Cheam – cannot wait for Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to this Saturday and (trainer) Richard’s (Lim) horse looks a good first ride back,” he said.
“He’s drawn the plum gate (one) and there looks a bit of speed in the race, so we might take a sit.
“Richard has been at the sales this week (Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale in Australia) so I will talk about race tactics with him later but the horse gave me a good feel at trackwork so although the race looks strong, he should show his best.”
His next two rides – Iron In Hand in a $30,000 Class 5 race over 1700m and First Chief in a $30,000 Class 5 race over 1200m – both look place chances at best but Stewart has two good rides to close the 11-card meeting.
“Ima (running in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m) has had his barrier issues but you can’t argue with his form around Istataba and Born to Win (who are both in the same race),” he explained.
“Steven and his team have been putting in a lot of work to sort his barrier problems out and a sponge and water in the gates might do the trick.
“I rode him in a trial on Tuesday (finished third in trial no. 2 behind Silent Is Gold) and the sponge seemed to calm him down before the jump. The atmosphere is a bit more electric on a race day but if he handles the occasion, he will run well.
“Fadaboy (running in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m) for (trainer) Donna (Logan) also looks a chance, but again, it looks a strong race.
“He’s only a little fella and laid back but he’s working well and has enough gate speed to overcome the awkward barrier (10). Donna’s other horse (Charminton) looks a nice type but we can make our own luck and we know he’s honest”.
Of the Singapore Gold Cup, Stewart does not hide a career-defining ambition to be the first jockey – Alan Trevena (1963, 1966 and 1968) and Thomas Farthing (1936, 1939 and 1941) also have three – to win the iconic race four times.
“It’s one of the reasons we moved back here as a family,” said the father of a two-and-a-half year old daughter, Dakota.
“The race means a lot to me. It was my first Group 1 win and obviously two more on the same horse for the same trainer makes it extra special.
“To ride four would be unbelievable but the injury has thrown a spanner in the works this year.”
More than a spanner given the lightweight hoop could not commit to any rides while out injured, Stewart hopes to have found his Cup ride.
“I had to wait until I had the ‘all clear’ from my doctor so I couldn’t really start looking till a week or so ago,” said the jockey who knocked in his first Group 1 win in Australia on Selino in the Sydney Cup (3200m) last year.
“It was tricky as a lot of the rides had already been taken and some good horses aren’t confirmed starters yet.
“At this stage, I’m committed to Donna’s horse (Super Impact) who is on the cusp of getting a start.
“We are hoping he can win a race next week (in a Class 2 race over 1600m on November 5) which would guarantee him a run. If he does start in the Cup, he would be a good chance with no weight.
“I thought his run the other day behind (trainer) Tim’s (Fitzsimmons) horse was good (finished second to Mr Black Back in a Class 3 over 1800m race on October 15).
“If I have him handy in running over 2000m in the Cup, he will be strong late. He stays all day.”
