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Jockey Mohd Zaki scored a rare treble last Sunday and he hopes to bring that winning form on board Nimbus Cloud, his ride in the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) this Saturday.

Going into the last race meeting with 2 wins from 55 rides this season, Zaki's first ride for the day – Apis – never really threatened in the Restricted Maiden race (1400m) won by Maximum Control, but for a journeyman like him, it was business as usual with another four "each-way hopes at best" to come.

But by the time the seventh race ended, a beaming Zaki was being photographed with winning connections – amazingly for the third time in consecutive races - and the hardworking hoop loved every minute of it.

The treble was a much-needed shot in the arm for the underrated jockey and that might have helped Zaki secure a ride on the Mahadi Taib-trained Nimbus Cloud in the upcoming second leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series.

Confidence is everything and Mahadi was quick to book Zaki on the last-start winner, who could run a cheeky race with just 53.5kgs as a Northern Hemisphere-bred gelding at the set weight conditions.

"This horse is a forward horse and Zaki is very good with leaders," explained the Singaporean conditioner.

"And after his treble on Sunday, we know that he is riding in good form and will be confident.

"He's (Nimbus Cloud) fresh enough, so 1400m will be suitable. He will be better over longer - so the (Group 2) (Singapore) Guineas (1600m) is more his race - but we are looking at a forward showing on Saturday. He only has 53.5kgs, so that helps too."

Held on May 20 in tandem with the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m), the Guineas will be the third Leg of the Singapore 3YO Challenge series. The Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) was run as the first Leg and it was won by the Donna Logan-trained January on April 8.

But what about that rare treble last Sunday?

Hard work in the early mornings and literally hundreds of losing rides before a well-deserved moment in the sun.

No one at Kranji or watching the telecast at home would have begrudged the Kelantan-born hoop any success that comes his way, which started with a typical go-to-whoa ride - to hang on by a head - on Chivalric Knight ($53) for Desmond Koh in the Class 5 race over 1400m.

Free Fallin' ($115) was an easier watch for Zaki's followers after he won the Class 4 race over 1600m for one of his biggest supporters in the training ranks – Shane Baertschiger - by two-and-a-half lengths.

Finally, he secured the "royal treble" with a peach of ride from near last on the aptly-named Rich Fortune (the longest odds at $145) for trainer Stephen Crutchley in the Class 5 Division 2 race (1200m) by a neck.

Zaki hit a purple patch of form, albeit he was only hopeful of a solid showing at best from the rides he had at his disposal last Sunday.

"100%. One win would have surprised me," said Zaki on Tuesday morning.

"I looked at the race book and thought maybe a place or two at best but when I won race (no.) five (on Chivalric Knight), I felt so lucky.

"To win one (Free Fallin') for the boss (Baertschiger) in the very next race was extra special. I was very happy as I work for his stable now.

"The boss, (jockey) Matthew (Kellady) and all the staff are so good to me. I was really excited to win that one.

"The third one – I can't believe it! I rode the horse (Rich Fortune ) before and he's a bit lazy and has short strides, so I wasn't confident.

"But when I pulled him to the outside and with 10 lengths to make up, l couldn't believe he responded so well and to win like he did – wow!

"One winner and I'm already happy – so three is amazing!"

To put the achievement in perspective, Zaki rode only three winners from 148 rides in 2019 and the humble hoop was quick to thank his biggest supporters who helped him stay in the job he loves.

"Firstly, I want to say thank you to my mother (Zainas) and my wife (Najwa), who are both really important to me," continued the jockey who almost gave up in 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions took its toll.

"But I can't thank Shane, Matthew and the stable staff enough. I can't say how much I'm happy to work in this stable.

"I really love this job – whether I get a winner or not – I always want to come to work every morning. I'm really happy."

Oddly, given the total wins on his resume, Zaki is no stranger to hat tricks with his most recent one in September 2021 where he fired in with another three longshots in Longhu ($107), Sun Conqueror ($74) and From The Navy ($123).

Prior to that, Zaki knocked his first three-timer back in December 2011 with Primer Mover, Gypsy Magic and See Me Win, but still rates his two Group wins as his career highlights.

"Riding three winners is a big achievement for sure," he explained.

"But winning my first Group race on Keep Away for (ex-boss and trainer) Mr (Hideyuki) Takaoka in the (Group 3) Committee's Prize (in 2012) was my biggest thrill.

"And winning on Nepean in the (Group 2) EW Barker (Trophy) for my (current) boss in 2020 was just as good.

"Hopefully, I can do my best on Nimbus Cloud on Saturday."