3 minute read
Back in Malaysia after more than a decade of honing his skill in New Zealand, Doni Prastiyou celebrated a career milestone when he piloted CAORUNN, named after the renowned gin, to victory in a Class 5 – 1200m handicap at Sungei Besi here today.
It was his 100th winner in a career which has taken him from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur to New Zealand and now back in the country.
Prastiyou started out as a syce with former trainer Lam Mun Chew in 2009 and soon started riding track work.
He then joined trainer Richard Lines in January 2010 and was granted a "C" grade apprentice licence the same year.
Prastiyou relocated to New Zealand the following year and rode his first race on August 31, 2012. Just five days later, he landed his first win on IT'S ESSENTIAL.
His time in New Zealand was plagued by a health issue which affected him for a number of years. However, dogged determination and a positive attitude saw him make a comeback to riding and in June last year, he rode his first winner in two years astride KANTRA at Cambridge.
In all, he rode 99 winners in New Zealand which include RED DIRT GIRL in the listed Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton.
Prastiyou made his local debut two weeks ago and has demonstrated his ability with a second and third in seven rides prior to this afternoon's meeting.
Prastiyou tracked the pacemaker NATUREISSPEAKING on CAORUNN, settling the son of Showcasing second on the outside of BRIGHT SUN.
CAORUNN took a while to get up to NATUREISSPEAKING in the straight on the wet track. He did so approaching the 200m and kicked clear. But soon MISE EN GARDE loomed large behind him and looked threatening one at stage.
Prastiyou dropped his whip in the closing stages, riding hands and heels to ask CAORUNN for another effort and the leader responded. They held on to win by half a length.
"It's very nice to get my first win in my homeland," said Prastiyou. "It's a privilege to ride over here. I gained a lot experience in New Zealand."
"CAORUNN jumped beautifully and was well balanced throughout. He finished off nicely in the end."
CAORUNN won twice early in his career in Singapore in 2017 and had to wait five years before his comeback win in January last year after his transfer to Sharee Hamilton. He has now picked up three more wins.
(Interesting footnote: Another Malaysian jockey Shankar Muniandy was supposed to ride RED DIRT GIRL in the Pegasus Stakes but could not make the 53kg weight. So the ride went to Prastiyou instead.)
