3 minute read

Promising young apprentice jockey Jamil Sarwi showed he was one to follow in the 2024 season after picking up a back-to-back double on Saturday.

The Singaporean lad took out the highlight race of the day after Silent Is Gold scored in the $100,000 Class 1 race (1200m), right after he won on the Donna Logan-trained Axel in the previous event, a $50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m.

The rides, a peach by industry standards, could mean more trainers and owners would take note of the three-kilo claimer's talent and in turn, give him more riding opportunities.

In the penultimate race, where Street Of Dreams eventually jumped as the $13 favourite and betting support also came in for Golden Monkey ($20) and Pacific Emperor ($24), Jamil showed intent early by settling Silent Is Gold ($28) on the leader, Sky Eye's (Bruno Queiroz) flank.

With Silent Is Gold  only on 50.5kgs, Jamil was happy to keep the pressure on Sky Eye on the bend, while Golden Monkey (Vlad Duric) was three-back in midfield on the fence, in the company of Pacific Emperor (Marc Lerner) and Street Of Dreams (Manoel Nunes) on the outside.

Turning for home, Jamil wasted no time in getting to work on the Stephen Gray-trained five-year-old and putting two lengths on the chasing pack at the 300m. Yet, it was still anybody's race with Golden Monkey the biggest threat as he made up ground quickly by the furlong post.

In fact, Jamil would have seen the handsome chestnut head of Golden Monkey by the 150m, and a further glance behind saw a wall of horses, Invincible Tycoon (Ryan Curatolo), Street Of Dreams and The August (Vitor Espindola), all looming large.

But Jamil, knowing he had an eight-and-a-half kilo weight advantage over the 2023 Singapore Derby winner, kept both his and the horse's mind well and truly on the job in the hectic last 100m, before holding Golden Monkey off by a neck in a cracking finish.

The honest Invincible Tycoon was the best of the rest two lengths back in third, while his stablemate, Street Of Dreams, who was first-up after an eight-month injury layoff, ran another three parts of a length back in fourth.

The winning time was a solid 1 min 9.54secs for the 1200m on the Long Course. Silent Of Gold's seventh win from 22 starts took his prizemoney to just under $400,000 for the Buddy Buddy Stable.

Jamil was full of praise for both the son of Star Turn and for some timely advice from wise heads before the race.

"The boss (Gray) told me to use his speed and lead if I want," said Jamil, who began riding in 2022.

"We jumped well, but we knew Sky Eye would try to lead too, so I was happy to sit on his outside and off the rail, which was a bit heavy.

 "On the corner, I slowly picked him (Silent Is Gold) up and got busy at the 400m. I was whipping using my right hand but when I heard someone coming, I changed to my left, and he responded again.

"Saimee (Jumaat, assistant-trainer to Gray and former eight-time Singapore champion jockey) reminded me before the race to change the whip to my left if needed, and I think that made the difference.

"I saw Golden Monkey late but just put my head down and kept riding to the line and the horse did the rest.

"I'd like to thank the boss for giving me the ride and Saimee, who is always teaching me."

The young hoop also got some good advice from his race rival and five-time Singapore champion jockey, Manoel Nunes, for his win on Axel.

"It was great to win for Madam (Logan) too," he continued.

"He's (Axel) such a nice horse to ride but Manoel told me to ride him quietly.

"I did and he really relaxed and came home strongly. Good advice!"

Silent Of Gold's winning trainer returned the praise for Jamil's ride and thought the rising star has plenty to offer down the road.

"It was a good ride and a good win," said the affable Kiwi.

"He had a lightweight but that's the game. Golden Monkey was the better horse at equal weights, but we got him at the handicaps coupled with the boy's (Jamil's) claim.

"He rode to instructions, made them catch up with the weight. He's (Silent Is Gold) also such an honest horse that he was always going to pick up a cheque. He's improving too.

"There is a nice race coming up over 1400m that will suit him and we'll see where we go from there."

Gray was referring to the Group 3 Fortune Bowl to be held on 11 February.