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Back-in-form apprentice jockey Shafiq Rizuan was on a hot streak on Sunday when he notched five winners from the 11-race programme.
The 2011 Singapore champion apprentice jockey has been enjoying a new lease of life since returning from a lengthy double suspension that added up to seven months on the outer. Returning to race-riding in March, Shafiq did not take long to show he had not lost an ounce of his polish when he struck his first 2015 win aboard Secret Spice, aptly for his mentor Mark Walker, on March 13.
Though Shafiq gave last year’s two-time champion apprentice jockey A’Isisuhairi Kasim a big start, he was obviously in a mood to make up for lost time this season. Knocking in wins on a regular basis, he quickly bridged the gap and soon enough, the Shafiq tidal wave was simply unstoppable when he edged past his arch-rival on May 3 with Mr Patron to hit win No 10.
The Kelantan-born rider has since added more wins, which was capped by his very first five-timer on Sunday courtesy of Wonderful Era, Double Rainbow, Appellation, Free Happy and Laser Storm to bring his tally to 24 wins, 10 clear of A’Isisuhairi, who answered back with one solitary winner in Hermano Menor.
Shafiq could barely contain his unbridled joy as he punched home Laser Storm in the last race, the $60,000 Open Benchmark 67 race over 1400m, raising his arm before the winning post to celebrate, a gesture he knew would lighten up his pocket of $500 (mandatory fine for such an offence).
“It was my first five-timer. I haven’t even won four in one day, and now I’ve won five,” said Shafiq.
“I was so happy. I knew I would get a $500 fine but I was too happy to think about it.
“Looking at my booking today, I knew I had some good chances and was expecting two or three winners but certainly not five.
“I was really down when I was suspended for so long, but I told myself I had to work hard to get back to the top when I come back.
“I knew it was hard as Harry and all the others already had a big lead, but I just put my head down and ride as many winners as possible.
“I am now leading the premiership, but there is still a long way to go. I’m sure Harry will keep up the heat.”
