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Irish jockey Declan McDonogh did not take too long to taste his first success in Singapore after he steered Little Dragon to victory on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
After making a relatively quiet debut at Kranji last Sunday, when his best result was a second place aboard Zinly for trainer Leslie Khoo, the 2006 Irish champion jockey was able to get on the scoresheet at only his fifth ride, coincidentally aboard another one of Khoo's gallopers, three-year-old filly Little Dragon.
The 31-year-old, who chose Singapore to “winter” away during the Irish flat-racing break, was delighted that first win has come sooner than later.
“I'm very happy to get that first win out of the way,” he said as he unsaddled Little Dragon.
“Credit to Leslie for having her spot-on tonight. She has definitely improved a lot from her last few runs.
“I had to check her at the first bend when one horse came up on my inside but otherwise she was fine.
“She dropped the bit when we got on the back of Johnny's (Powell) horse (Zac Influence), but she travelled well after that. She was caught wide down the backstraight but it didn't really matter all that much and in the end she won very well.”
McDonogh, a winner of over 640 races in Ireland and other countries like England, France, Germany and Italy said he he had no problem sussing out his new hunting ground after doing plenty of riding in the morning.
“It's a lovely racecourse and I've been riding a fair bit on it at trackwork. The track was a bit sloppy last Sunday but it was a good start.
“The support from the various trainers has been good and I am really looking forward to riding more winners now.”
One trainer who has been won over by the Irishman's polish in the saddle, and looks set to call upon him in the next three months he is licensed to ride at Kranji, is without a doubt Khoo.
“Declan is a very good jockey. He rode this filly very well,” said Khoo, himself a former leading jockey.
“It's not the first time I've provided new jockeys with their first winner. I also gave Nelito Cunha his first winner (Top Happiness) when he first came here last year.
“She was a bit unlucky at her last start. I was expecting a better run from her tonight and she's done the job.”
Little Dragon is a three-year-old filly by Elusive Quality out of the Sadler's Wells dam Paradise Lost. She was at her first success in five starts for the Arowana Stable.