Four-time champion jockey Vlad Duric is back on track to make a strong presence at Kranji after taking command of his well-documented weight issues.
On August 20, Duric went to post aboard David Kok-trained Pacific MV with a weight of 54kgs to carry. No, it wasn’t a misprint. Duric indeed made weight and has since ridden at 54kgs or 54.5kgs on three more occasions. One has to go back through the record books to 2021 to find the last time Duric even got close to riding that light when he was going around at 55kgs on a few occasions.
The Australian has turned over a new leaf when it comes to his health. In the space of eight weeks, Duric lost 12kgs thanks to a strict regimen, including 15km walks, cutting out sugar and alcohol, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), fasting, and, of course, trackwork riding.
Since August 20, Duric has won two races out of 15 rides, with three additional placings. Considering all the hard work he has put in, he is expected to reap the rewards for the remainder of the season.
