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Journeyman jockey Benny Woodworth turned back the clock when he rode his first Singapore winner since Profound scored on New Year’s Day in 2013.
The former Malayan Racing Association four-time champion apprentice jockey and one-time senior champion only made his Kranji comeback this year after electing to focus his career up North (shortly after the Profound win) and then taking up a one-year riding contract in Mauritius in 2014.
Back since the beginning of the year, the Malaysian jockey has been riding mainly freelance, coming up with four seconds as his best showing from 56 rides, but to be fair, the conveyances he had been getting legged up aboard were not exactly world-beaters.
Reuniting with trainer Desmond Koh, one of his most loyal supporters from Day 1, when he combined with Xin Treasure in Sunday’s $60,000 Class 4 race over 1100m on Polytrack, Woodworth did not let his chance to revisit the winner’s enclosure slip by.
Settling the son of Flying Pegasus three wide in midfield, Woodworth brought his mount within striking distance upon straightening. Secret Mission (Manoel Nunes), who had made play from the start, was showing plenty of ticker, but was left reactionless when Xin Treasure ($63) came limbering up on the outside before lengthening away to defeat him by one length.
Woodworth, who has the rare ability of switching between Australian and English riding styles, was seen at his Aussie best, wielding his whip like a windmill to winning effect.
City Of Sails (Thanarajan Barnabas) finished third more than three lengths away. The winning time was 1min 6.33secs.
“Long time no winner. I can’t even remember my last win,” said Woodworth. “Profound? Boy, that’s a very long time ago.
“Thanks to Desmond for the support. The horse was three wide but always travelling well on the bit.
“Once he hit the front, he gave a good kick and I was just hoping no horse will come past me.”
Woodworth revealed that much-awaited win was coinciding with an invitation to ride at the yearly Hong Kong-Macau Interport series next weekend.
“(Trainer) Geoff Allendorf has asked me to ride King Creole for him in Hong Kong and then Macau,” said Woodworth.
“I’ve often ridden for Geoff in Macau and it’s a great opportunity to link back up with him. Hopefully today’s win will give me some luck.”
Woodworth is one of the few Malaysian jockeys to have successfully exported his talent overseas. Besides Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Macau, the 40-year-old has also ridden in countries like England, Australia, Japan, Korea, Qatar and even Cyprus.
Koh for one was glad the rolling stone has decided to lay his hat in Kranji and could only hope the old firm was here to stay.
“It’s good to get Benny back. It’s a successful partnership we’ve had for a long time and I’m glad I gave him his first winner in a long time,” said Koh who was at the double (Bulldozer), though it could have been three but Powerpac who dead-heated with Dynasty Knight (see earlier report) was demoted.
Without taking anything away from the Koh-Woodworth win aboard Xin Treasure, the race was marred by the disastrous start of short-priced ($9) favourite Clip The Ticket.
The race was as good as over when the Cliff Brown-trained and Corey Brown-ridden galloper stumbled out of his barrier No 6, diving nose first before staggering back on his feet, losing many lengths, which he never managed to make up to run last.