After a three-timer on Saturday, champion jockey Manoel Nunes has now equalled his world-famous compatriot Joao Moreira’s record of 737 wins at Kranji.
His hat-trick of wins aboard Elliot Ness, Star Victory and Asif also brought his season tally to 57 wins, three more than Moreira’s godson and young Brazilian hoop Bruno Queiroz, who sits in second on the 2024 jockeys’ log after he fired blanks on Saturday.
Nunes is only one win away from surpassing Moreira’s win record in Singapore and with eight rides booked at the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) meeting on 5 October, the five-time Singapore champion jockey can look forward to finishing third behind retired jockeys Barend Vorster (789 wins) and Saimee Jumaat (776 wins) on the all-time Kranji winners’ list for jockeys.
“I’m very blessed to be able to equal (the Singapore win record of) a jockey like Joao,” he said.
“It was not easy. It has been eight years and for the last two years, we’re only riding one day a week, so it (Moreira’s record) seemed a long way off for me.
“And to be in the history books with jockeys like Barend, Saimee and Joao, it’s very special for me.
“But I still have work to do next week. At this stage, I have eight rides next Saturday, including Dream Alliance for (trainer) Tim (Fitzsimmons) in the Gold Cup.
“I would love to win that race. I’ve never won the Gold Cup before, but I also need to ride at least one winner as the (2024) jockey’s race (premiership) will go down to the wire.
“I’ve missed a few meetings, so it’s nice to be leading with one meeting to go. I lost a lot of support when (ex-Kranji trainer) Michael Clements left, so it was hard work to get on the good horses.
“I have to thank all the owners and trainers that supported me and let’s hope I can ride a winner or two next week to thank them.”
Should Nunes get that one win, it might already be enough for him to clinch his sixth Singapore champion jockey’s title, which would make him second only to Jumaat who won the title eight times.
Nunes opened his account on Saturday atop Elliot Ness ($10) for trainer Donna Logan in the $85,000 Class 4 race (1100m) before bringing up a double in the $45,000 Class 5 Division 2 race (1200m) on the James Peters-trained Star Victory ($16). Two races later, Nunes gave the Steven Burridge-trained Asif ($70) a peach of a ride in the highlight race of the day, a $130,000 Class 3 race (1200m).
Upon dispatch, Lim’s Bighorn (Wong Chin Chuen) set a cracking pace early and he had Bransom (Daniel Moor) and Aniki (Bruno Queiroz) for company while $12 favourite Ravalli (Ryan Curatolo) settled in worse than midfield. Meanwhile, Nunes had Asif sat better than midfield on the rails upon settling from his wide gate nine.
Turning for home, Lim’s Bighorn kicked strongly three lengths in front and was full of running, so the chasing pack had work to do with Asif making his run at the 300m and Ravalli also looming with some hope; albeit eight lengths in arrears.
At the 200m, Lim’s Bighorn began to shorten his strides and Asif quickly pounced. He led at the 100m, but Ravalli and Sacred Buddy (Krisna Thangamani) were also flying home late.
Asif had done enough to hold on by half a length over Ravalli while Sacred Buddy finished a neck away in third. Lim’s Bighorn, who ran another short head away, was brave in fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 9.24 secs for the 1200m on the Short Course. Asif’s third win from 11 starts took his prizemoney to over $170,000 for the Al-Arabiya Stable.
Nunes was full of praise for Asif who had his fair share of issues.
“That was a very good win,” said Nunes of the six-year-old son of Per Incanto.
“He (Asif) had an operation earlier in the year and took a while to get back to full fitness.
“From barrier nine today, it was tough but may have worked in our favour as I discussed with Steven and (owner) Mansoor (Gandhi) before we decided to ride him quieter.
“So I got the rail and when I made my run, he was beautiful. The shortcut (on the rails) helped and I think I got a good break on Ravalli.
“It’s good prizemoney too (increased from $70,000 to $130,000 for a Class 3 race), so I’m happy for Mansoor.”
By Larry Foley
