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Singaporean apprentice jockey Alfian Nordin’s first reaction after he rode his first career winner on Sunday was to say he felt “blessed” to have a master like Mohd Yusof.
The 28-year-old just returned from a collarbone injury sustained in a nasty fall from Cannon King on February 26.
While Alfian finished fifth at his riding comeback on the same Cannon King on May 22, only half-a-length off the winner Fantastic Man, the very next ride – his 27th - was bang on target.
After a moderate start, Sacred Crown ($73) came from a midfield spot under a well-judged ride from the young man to overhaul the duelling pair of Lucky Six (John Powell) and Natural Impulse (Saifudin Ismail). With the momentum, the Beautiful Crown six-year-old went on to score by half-a-length from $11 favourite Lucky Six who nosed Natural Impulse out for second. The winning time was 1min 0.39secs for the 1000m on the Polytrack of the $35,000 Clarence House Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race.
Alfian for one was over the moon he has finally broken his duck, but as much as his confidence was never dented by the accident and the three months off, he owed his success to one man.
First indentured to nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon for six months, Alfian “downscaled” to Yusof’s much smaller yard in 2012, but felt a more boutique outfit has helped him grow.
“I feel blessed I have a master like Yusof. Every single day, he gives me good advice and puts me on his horses when he can,” said the Clementi graduate of the Singapore Training Academy of Racing (STAR) programe.
“I rode this horse in a trial about three weeks ago and I’ve trotted him a few times, and he gave me a very good feel this week.
“I’ve ridden him before and like the boss told me, you have to wake him up and keep working on him to get him going.
“He quickened very well from the top of the straight and I had a feeling I had my first win today. I’m very happy I have finally won my first race.”
Not the sort who goes over the top on emotional display, Yusof simply praised Alfian for his solid work ethic as well as his determination to succeed.
“He’s a hard worker and is mentally very tough. I’m very happy he’s ridden his first winner, and more so it’s for me,” said the Singaporean veteran trainer.
“This horse used to be Dato Yap’s (Kim San) and has now won seven races – all for me and the new owner (Loyalty’s Stable). He’s been a very good horse to me.”
In 66 runs, Sacred Crown, who was Yusof's only runner and Alfian's only ride for the day, has now recorded seven wins and 13 placings for prizemoney in excess of $225,000 for the Loyalty’s Stable.