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The return of apprentice jockey Zuriman Zulkifli on his pet horse Cheetah On Fire on Sunday proved to be a happy reunion with the pair immediately clicking to record their fourth success.
The duo reeled off a two-in-a-row earlier this year to bring up their haul to three wins following their first winning partnership last October, but it was jockey David Flores who had been Cheetah On Fire’s regular partner at his last five starts, with three seconds in a row as their best results.
With the US jockey in Seoul to ride El Padrino in the Asia Challenge Cup – which they won (see other report) - trainer Bruce Marsh put his apprentice jockey back on Cheetah On Fire in Sunday’s $80,000 Open Benchmark 74 race over 1700m, and the recall paid instant dividends.
Settled at the rear in his customary role of backmarker, Cheetah On Fire, who was backed down to $13 favouritism, gave a start of as many as 10 to 12 lengths to Greenstone (Mohd Firdaus) at some stage, but his young rider never pressed the panic button at any stage.
Knowing what he had underneath him, Zuriman bided his time until the top of the straight when he set the son of One Cool Cat alight. Accomplished (John Sundradas) was showing no signs of letting up in front, but Cheetah On Fire lunged late to score a last-gasp win by the barest of margins.
Boomarang Deluxe (Corey Brown), who had every chance on the rails, quickened up from the 300m when a gap appeared, but peaked on his run to finish third another length away. The winning time was 1min 45.7secs for the 1700m on Polytrack.
“I know this horse very well. I just wanted to settle him early as I know he’s got a very good turn of foot,” said Zuriman.
“They were quite far ahead of us, but I wasn’t too worried and waited for the home straight to make my move.
“He ran on very strongly and on the line, I had a feeling we had just got there. Luckily, the photo finish proved me right.”
Marsh, who in the end decided not to travel to Korea to watch Trudeau race in the Asia Challenge Cup, said Cheetah On Fire has turned into a consistent and reliable middle-distance performer ever since he departed from the sprinting pattern he had been set upon early doors.
“It’s funny how most of his runs used to be over 1100m and 1200m before, when on his breeding, he is out of a well-bred staying mare from New Zealand (Kindness),” said the Kiwi handler.
“He’s the perfect horse to train. He rarely disappoints and again, he got there, even if it was very close.
“It’s a nice race to win ahead of the Korean race. I thought I would go, but I’ve been away for too long, and I thought it’d be better to stay home.
“Gabriel Hessian travelled there and Trudeau’s in good hands. Let’s hope he runs well.”
Unfortunately for Marsh and the Arexevan Racing Stable, Trudeau did not seem to handle the Seoul sand track and ran out of the placings for jockey Noel Callow, far behind the other Singapore runner El Padrino (David Flores) while the third runner Speedy Cat (Danny Beasley) was also an also-ran.