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Promising apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong has not waited too long to return to the Kranji winner’s enclosure after he steered Foresto to a rousing win in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1700m on Friday.
Kok just came back from a three-month stint in Tasmania between December and February, gaining four more winners to his haul of 16 Singapore winners earned at his rookie season in 2018 – as well as plenty of useful riding experience in a completely different set-up.
An ankle injury one week before his last Tasmanian meeting was, however, not the ending the 23-year-old Ipoh-born rider would have wished, but it has not dampened the amiable young man’s keenness to put the polish newly acquired in the Apple Isle to good use at his home base.
Kok returned to race-riding in Singapore on April 19, drawing blanks at two meetings, but was right on the money with Lee Freedman’s Foresto on Friday night.
Settled in a rearward position after an even getaway, the previous one-time winner from 20 starts travelled relaxed but was straight on his A-game once Kok set him alight at the top of the straight.
As race-leader Ancient Warrior (Benny Woodworth) folded at the 300m, the Excelebration four-year-old bounded past on his way to an emphatic 4 ¼-length win from Parador (Joseph Azzopardi) with Pacific Mystical (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 45.09secs for the 1700m on the Polytrack.
“I’m thrilled to get my first winner back home,” said Kok.
“Tasmania was great, and the Australians are friendly people. I learned a lot there with riding master Stephen Maskiell.”
Picking up where he left off following his flawless three-from-three (Super Dynasty, Crouching Sun and Circuit Mission) on Sunday, Freedman was pleased he had got another win out of Foresto, his first runner for the night.
“I’m very happy with that win. This horse has always shown ability,” said the Australian trainer.
“Simon rode him well and he won well.”
Raced by Thai outfit King Power Stable, Foresto has now racked up in excess of $110,000 in stakes earnings thanks to his two wins, but also his haul of four seconds and three thirds.