3 minute read
Smokie Real Efecto exploded onto the scene in the final 100m to score in the $70,000 Speedy Cat 2013 Stakes on Sunday, giving jockey A’Isisuhairi Kasim his 300th win in Singapore.
Better known as Harry, the Kelantan-born and New Zealand-trained rider made his debut at Kranji in December 2012, before going on to clinch his Singapore champion apprentice jockey titles in 2013 and 2014.
With 13 Group wins in 299 wins thus far, Harry actually came close to his 300th milestone win aboard Engine Start three races earlier, but the Jason Ong-trained gelding ran home late and could only finish in second, two-and-a-half lengths behind Sacred Judgement.
That hunch feeling that he could hit the 300-winner mark came with Real Efecto in the Class 3 race (1600m), but only when the pair hit the final furlong-mark.
Dropped to second last upon dispatch, the David Kok-trained stayer was only parked ahead of Street Cry Success (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) while Sacred Command (Benny Woodworth) took up the bunny's role up front.
The sequence did not change much but once the field swung for home, Kok took advantage of a gap that opened for Street Cry Success at the 300m, yet Real Efecto was still nowhere to be seen in the camera frames.
The son of Real Impact had coursed out the widest in the straight. Just when Street Cry Success kicked on furiously towards the post, Harry let rip on Real Efecto and the $123 outsider chance lunged home, relegating the Steven Burridge-trained gelding into second by a head.
Elite Incredible (Ronnie Stewart) lost no marks to run third another three-quarter length away, but another Elite Performance Stable-owned gelding and favourite, Elite Legend (Manoel Nunes) could only manage sixth at his third run in Singapore.
The winning time was 1 min 34.52secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.
While Harry's two other rides, Talkingtalkingstar and City Gold Warrior for Kok ran unplaced, it was his first win on Real Efecto after seven associations with the five-year-old gelding previously.
"I thought 1600m was a bit too short for him actually," said Harry, who rode his first win with Kobe Top Gun in December 2012.
"David told me to ride him quiet today and there was a genuine pace. This horse can pull but he was relaxed today.
"I knew he's got something to finish on top of them. The way he was travelling, I knew that I was going to get there in the last 200m.
"I'm just glad I rode my 300th winner for David. No more stress now and I'm off tomorrow!"
Interestingly, Kok is now only one step away from his personal achievement of 300 wins in 14 years after Real Efecto scored.
Owned by Kok, the burly gelding snapped a long run of outs after he won the Class 4 race over the same trip a month ago, adding a fifth win to his tally since his previous win in November 2021, but Kok had not discounted him on Sunday.
"The distance was too short, but the horse still maintained his fitness and he worked and trialled well that day (fifth to Fame Star in trial no. 3 on June 27)," said Kok of his 15th winner this season.
"A winner is a winner!"
With six wins and nine placings in 29 starts, Real Efecto has now amassed over $280,000 in prizemoney for Kok.
