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Comeback kid Noh Senari brought an agonisingly long wait of three years to an end following a masterful winning ride aboard longshot Awesome on Friday night.
The naturally gifted 25-year-old rider was nearly lost to racing, not because the previous winner of 44 races had lost his skills, but simply because the hot-headed youngster was often his own worst enemy.
Just when most thought Noh was at the pinnacle of his career in 2014, after he finished a close runner-up to A’Isisuhairi Kasim in the apprentice log, he suddenly went down a slippery slope.
The first crack appeared when he fell out with his master Michael Freedman. Rides and wins dried up, six months in New Zealand whacking away on no-hopers didn’t help matters much. Noh was on a downward spiral, and just when he was about to hit rock bottom, one of his idols threw him a lifeline, former eight-time Singapore champion jockey Saimee Jumaat, who is no stranger to personal struggles himself after his fall from grace following a second disqualification that ended his career in the saddle.
With Saimee in the running for a trainer’s licence, he knew he would need good personnel, including a safe pair of hands. When Noh approached him, he knew he had found the right person as he flung the door wide open for the reformed and hungry-again apprentice.
Seizing that second chance at resurrecting his riding career with two hands, the nephew of former jockeys M Rahman and Rahmat was finally rewarded for his renewed determination, hard work and ultimately, self-belief with a fresh apprentice jockey’s licence on October 1.
It was a fresh new start that he thought he would never have.
After coming close with a third place aboard favourite Sahaba (trained by his master Saimee) at his very first ride last Friday, Noh did not let his second chance slip away, even if not many thought he would have sealed his return to the winner’s circle with a $135 chance.
Riding Awesome, also prepared by Saimee, in the highlight of the night, the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m, Noh exuded that supreme confidence that was one of his trademarks during his heyday.
Though caught three wide, Noh had Awesome travelling comfortably on the bit without overreaching at any stage, just in keeping with the steady clip set by Marine Treasure ridden on a piece of cotton by fine judge of pace John Powell.
Into the straight, the swoopers descended thick and fast with favourite Siam Sapphire (Manoel Nunes), who missed the start, looking like he could nullify his barrier blunder with a strong rally as he came peeling off the back of Marine Treasure at the top of the straight.
But his early efforts to rail through from barrier No 1 told as he shortened up 100m out. Awesome was one of the first to profit from that sudden change of landscape as he hit the front under Noh’s powerful urgings – that belied his long absence from competitive riding - while Draco (Barend Vorster) who had tacked onto Awesome from the 600m, was the only one who looked like he could spoil Noh’s party.
And what a noisy party it was after Awesome stuck manfully to his task to deny Draco by a head with Siam Sapphire gallant in defeat another three parts of a length away. As Noh returned to the winner’s stall for the first time almost three years to the day since Flying Zero on October 10, 2014, his fans gave him a raucous reception that showed no abatement all the way until the happy young man walked into the weighing room, while waving graciously to the cheers.
“It’s a good feeling, it’s good to be back riding a winner,” said an emotional Noh.
“The horse was drawn 10. Saimee told me not to worry about that as he is a horse who needs momentum, I just listened to his instructions and it’s paid off.
“I’ve wanted to be a jockey since young. I’m pretty heavy-boned but I am determined to make it.
“I’d like to say thank you to the Singapore Turf Club for giving me a second chance and believing in me.
“But the biggest thank you has to go to my boss, Saimee, who really helped me, not just as a rider but also as a person. He knew what my problems were and he helped me with his advice and counselling.
“Thanks boss, you are the best, not only with horses, but also with dealing with people.”
Evidently touched by the kind words, Saimee said the night belonged to Noh, because at the end of the day, he is the master of his own destiny.
“It’s not about the horse, it’s about the rider tonight,” said the first-year trainer who was picking up his sixth winner since starting operations on August 1.
“Noh joined me late last year (when still assistant-trainer to Sonny Yeoh) and he works and tries very hard. I’m very happy he got that first winner after such a long time.
“We tried to give him a winning ride at his comeback last week, but it didn’t quite work out. I gave him another good chance tonight and he didn’t let it slip this time.
“I gave this horse a break two starts ago, and his last run was not too bad, better than what he showed. He got squeezed at the start and he still let down quite well even if he finished ninth.”
Awesome clocked 1min 11.38secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack. Previously trained by Yeoh, the Showcasing five-year-old was notching up his fifth win from 16 outings for stakes earnings that have now exceeded the $200,000 mark for the ATL Stable.