3 minute read
Trainer Ricky Choi enjoyed his best day at the office since his relocation from Macau to Kuala Lumpur when Lucky To Win, Luen On Feelings and Revue won three consecutive races for the former Hong Kong jockey-turned-trainer.
But he has always known that such an afternoon will come eventually since Wealthyness gave him a winning start on Nov 17.
Revue provided him with his second win a week later but the subsequent two weeks have been frustrating for Choi with just a couple of placings to show.
"Most of my horses were not suitable on the wet tracks in the last couple of weeks and I knew my fortunes would turn around today with the 'good' track."
After an unplaced debut over 1300m, Lucky To Win – Choi's first runner in Malaysia – came from just off the pace to win the Class 4A handicap over 1600m.
Leading jockey Ruzaini Supien settled the Deep Field gelding in third spot behind the pacemaker Mainstream. He took a gap between runners in the straight before beating off a determined Najwan to win 3/4 length.
"This horse needed the run last start and was more suited over today's trip. He has won over 1800m in Macau," said Choi.
After two consecutive placings (beaten a head in his last run), Luen On Feelings came into his own with a 3-1/4-length-win in the Class 4A – 1400m handicap.
Again, Ruzaini showed patience as he let Luen On Feelings bowled along behind the pace set by Olympia.
Luen On Feelings and Lim's Craft raced up to Olympia at the 400m but the leader held them at bay till the 150m. That's when Luen On Feelings quickened his strides, dashed through between the other two horses and began to pull away.
Luen On Feelings left them standing in the run home, winning drawing away.
"He (Luen On Feelings) just failed to catch the winner (So We Fight) last start on a (yielding) track that was not to his liking," Choi said.
"With Low Kan Chong (the rider of Lucky To Win and Luen On Feelings in their last start) suspended, I knew I had to get Ruzaini to ride them.
"I have been watching him. He's a strong rider and I knew he would get the two horses to relax and come home."
For Ruzaini, the partnership with Choi was several weeks in the making.
"To be honest, he tried to get me from Day 1 but I was busy with other commitements," said Ruzaini.
"I told him I will ride a winner for him today. I am happy for him because he had three winners and I rode two of them."
Revue , who scored a runaway 8-1/4 length-win over 1300m in his debut on Nov 24, capped a superb afternoon for Choi when he took the Supreme B set-weight event over 14000m.
Whereas the Delago Deluxe gelding chased the pacemaker before drawing away last start, the six-year-old came from off the pace to beat Lim's Betterready and the favourite Saint Tropez this time.
"I told trainer Choi I didn't think I can lead or raced with the pace today because of the barrier draw (7)," said apprentice Nuqman Rozi.
"I told him I need to save ground and get him to settle down off the pace and make my move at the top of the straight.
"But at the 600m when I pushed him for an effort, he wasn't responding. I then let him settle down and halfway down the straight when he was breathing well, I knew I had a chance."
Last start winner Saint Tropez set the pace and was holding Lim's Betterready at bay until the last 100m when Revue charged home on the outside to win drawing away by 1-3/4 lengths. Lim's Betterready managed to beat Saint Tropez for second.
"It was a superb ride by Nuqman," said Choi who is elated with his first hattrick in Malaysia. "I hope this is the start of better things to come."