3 minute read
Low-key jockey Koh Teck Huat has not jumped on many good horses over the years, but there were a few of those so-called bread-and-butter horses who “ran for him”.
Knight Spirit – three wins over a period of three years (2015 to 2017) – spring to mind first. His mini winning streaks with Rising Empire and Ocean General in 2015 were also noteworthy.
The Wild Bunch is the latest one to have clicked, but the Swiss Ace three-year-old may well turn out to be a bit better than bread-and-butter. At least, Koh hoped so.
In two partnerships (first was on debut in the second race of the first 2020 meeting on New Year's Day), the Singaporean jockey boasts a flawless record on the New Zealand-bred. At his only other start – the second outing - The Wild Bunch, with three-kilo claimer Zyrul Nor Azman up, ran fourth to Mr Malek in a Novice race over 1000m.
Trainer Jason Ong reinstated Koh in the saddle at the last start in a Class 4 race over 1400m, with happy results again, and in more or less identical style. Go forward and hold all comers at bay.
Koh, who will this time stay on at The Wild Bunch's next assignment in Friday night's $50,000 Class 4 race over the mile, modestly said he was not some special jockey who held the key to the bold frontrunner's success.
"The first time I galloped him, he actually felt very normal, nothing special," said Koh.
"But in a race, he is different, very strong and he has a very good fighting spirit. When horses come close, he goes again.
"He's a horse that jumps and runs, goes forward by himself. He has a very good pace and I think the 1600m will be better for him.
"But no, I don't think there is any special connection between me and him. He's just a good horse that I'm lucky to have won two-from-two on, and I hope the good run continues this Friday."
So does Ong, whose father Boon Hin of War Affair fame, owns a share in The Wild Bunch with a new group of owners.
"The Wild Bunch is going well. It's always hard for young horses to run in Class 4 and run against older horses, but it was very encouraging to see him win in open company at his last race," said the Singaporean trainer.
"The way he is racing tells me he is looking for more ground. It's a different story this Friday, but if he can win again, that to me would mean he can go on and run in better races.
"My dad co-shares The Wild Bunch with a group of new owners. It would be nice if he can go to the next level.
"TH Koh has a perfect record on him, and I won't change a winning formula. The reason I put Zy on at his second start was because I wanted a claimer on against a good horse like Mr Malek.
"TH works this horse every morning. He galloped him this morning and he worked okay.
"It's actually hard to judge him on his trackwork as he is quite a laid-back horse. He saves his best for raceday."