Jockey Barend Vorster notched a milestone when Let's See Action scored a narrow victory in the $95,000 Thundering Jet 2010 Stakes over 1400m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Into his ninth season of riding in Singapore, Vorster landed his 500th winner at Kranji when Let's See Action got up to score by a head over Meteor Mike (Jose Verenzuela) with Keep Away (John Powell) a head away third.
Vorster landed his first winner at Kranji back in October 2003 aboard Hackman and scored his one and only premiership title the following year landing 53 winners.
Vorster had Let's See Action handy to the pace throughout the race but was having difficulty obtaining clear running until the 200m mark as the leader Meteor Mike and Keep Away kept fighting while Freezemaster (Joao Moreira) had also joined in.
Once he gained clear running Let's See Action knuckled down to the task in brave fashion and in the end recorded a solid win.
Vorster said reaching his 500th win at Kranji for longtime supporter Patrick Shaw made the milestone even sweeter.
“I raced for Pat back home in South Africa before I came here and to win for him is a great thrill,” said Vorster.
“Pat has always been a great supporter of mine since I came here but I also get a lot of support from a number of the others guys as well.
“Unfortunately you can't always ride for them when asked as I ride for Pat, but that is a part of a jockey's life.
“I've really enjoyed my time here in Singapore and I'm hoping it will continue into the future.
“I've set up home here in Singapore and I've got my family here. I'm now into my ninth year and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone.
“Riding winners certainly always helps.”
In his time in Singapore Vorster has ridden a number of feature race winners but labelled his win aboard Ato in this year's Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in May as the highlight.
Vorster said Let's See Action had beaten a “decent quality field” on Sunday and said he would have been unlucky if defeated.
“He just needed to get a crack at them in the straight and luckily the run appeared,” said Vorster.
“Once he saw the gap he quickened up nicely. It was a good win.”
Shaw was naturally delighted with the victory and said it was a great feather in the cap for Vorster and joked: “I've just done the math he owes me quite a lot you know. I've been putting him on winners for years.”
Shaw described Let's See Action as a “game little horse” and is looking forward to his four-year-old season.
“He's only a three-year-old and has been winning against the older horse,” said Shaw. “I think he'll have a good four-year-old season.
“He's a game little horse that always tries his heart out.”
Let's See Action was an expensive yearling purchase costing A$285,000. By Flying Spur from the Bahhare mare Purde, Let's See Action has returned EMMA Stable around $275,000 in prizemoney following Sunday's success.
