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Four-time Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric showed why he is still one of the best in the business after he dominated the final meeting of the year with four wins on Saturday.
The rejuvenated hoop first scored with $13 favourite Seamlessly in the $20,000 Open Maiden Division 1 race (1400m) at the 12-race meeting by lifting the four-year-old son of Fabulous to beat October by a short head on the line.
Duric then took out the last three races in succession, first on Lightning Strike ($18) in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race (1800m), followed by Aniki ($20) in the $75,000 Novice race (1200m) and then Silo ($10) in the $50,000 Class 4 race (1200m).
The win of the day was arguably in the Novice race, where Duric showed his clinical brilliance when he won comfortably on topweight, Aniki.
That was a feat made all the more challenging given two of the fancied three-year-olds, Stop The Water and Gun carried only 50kgs and 51kgs with apprentice jockeys Faiz Khair and Jamil Sarwi on board respectively.
After jumping fairly, Duric had to push his mount to make use of the good gate four to lead early before letting Stop The Water cross from barrier 11 and take over the lead at the bend.
With the 58kgs a factor, Duric allowed the Alwin Tan-trained Aniki to make his own way to the front upon turning for home and waited until the 300m before urging the four-year-old son of Outreach with hands and heels only, while both Faiz and Jamil were already busy with the whips.
When Duric eventually pulled the persuader at the 150m, the race was all but over with Aniki easily holding off a game Gun by a length on the line. Eruption (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) ran on well for third another half-a-length behind.
The winning time was 1 min 9.85secs for the 1200m on the Long Course. Aniki's second win from three starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over $50,000 for owner Lee Shu Huey.
Duric was full of praise for a horse that had to step up in Class and carry weight to win, and for Tan who made the right moves with a telling gear change two starts ago.
"To be honest, he (Aniki) came off winning an average maiden race, so all credit to the horse to beat some nice types while he carried weight today," said the Australian jockey.
"He measured up and that's all you can ask for, but I think Alwin deserved credit too. He (Tan) put the tongue-tie on last start when he won on the Polytrack (in an Open Maiden race over 1100m on 25 November) and that made all the difference.
"I was worried about the weight as it favoured the three-year-olds for sure, but when he (Aniki) went past Stop The Water, I knew he would hold off the rest. It was a good win."
The experienced jockey also gave thumbs-up for his other winners, especially Silo (x National Defense), who he believes has a big future ahead.
"It was a gutsy win by Seamlessly," he continued.
"I also thought (trainer) Tim (Fitzsimmons) did a great job to get Lightning Strike (x Impending) to win over 1800m after a seven-week freshen-up, but I was very impressed with Silo.
"It was the first time I sat on him and I was really taken by him. He's still a colt, is compact and has a beautiful action. I think you can ride him anywhere and he's so genuine. He has a very bright future."
For Duric, four wins at the final meeting of the year was simply rewards for hard work on and off the track.
"I think it's well-documented I was struggling health and weight-wise for the last couple of years," said a candid Duric.
"Early this year, it was to give up (riding) up or to have a decent crack and thankfully, I chose the later.
"I'm doing the hard work off the track with my diet and exercise so I can ride at a decent weight.
"I don't miss a day with exercises and it's paying dividends. It's great to ride four winners anytime but more importantly, it gives me momentum going into next year."
