Nothing seems to faze or stop rising apprentice jockey Kif Toh these days - not even the sheer bulk of Solitaire, his fifth career winner.
Toh, 26, who has been on a magic carpet ride since his debut winning ride aboard Leave Me Alone on March 21, astounding all and sundry with the way horses seem to run for him, did exclaim his surprise as he walked up to get legged-up aboard Solitaire at the mounting yard, and sized up the imposing chestnut mass, all of 533 kilos, towering over his lithe 47-kilo frame.
“Oh, he’s big,” muttered the Toa Payoh boy, albeit with his trademark disarming smile.
Such a comment a few minutes before the start of the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m might have slightly rattled the confidence of the connections of the Fusaichi Pegasus five-year-old, but they needed not have worried. Toh, if anything, might have only been referring to the “big” engine inside Solitaire, as the diligent rider had internally already crafted his battle plan.
One traced word for word upon trainer Shane Baertschiger’s precise instructions: “Ride him back, kid, bring him to the outside and let him do the rest.”
If there was ever a plan that followed a script to a tee, that ride had to be a contender for the top prize.
From barrier rise, Toh allowed his mount to exit evenly before dropping anchor at the rear, as Dragon King (Danny Beasley) took up the running at a steady tempo up front.
Speed Demon (Joseph See) came eyeballing Lamborghini Flame (H Syafiq) to inject more speed into the race, but Dragon King seemed in absolute control of the race, while at the rear, Toh was just swinging off the top of his saddle, patiently containing an effervescent ball of energy under him – ready to explode at any time.
As the 11-horse field cornered and fanned out across the track, the complexion of the race was not shifting all that much with Dragon King still holding the fort well, while $15 favourite Strubeli (Lisa Allpress) was not putting any indent in the margin, as had been expected by his connections and supporters.
It was debut winner Indian Jade (Manoel Nunes) who was emerging as the brightest hope on the outside, looking all poised to collect a much-needed fillip for trainer Michael Freedman, deprived of success since Let Go Lenni on March 30.
But they had not reckoned with the industry and omnipresence of this latest Kranji prodigy called Toh, who had all this while surreptitiously inched forward to launch his assault at the 300m.
Nunes, a seasoned veteran of more than a thousand wins, had not seen it coming, and despite digging into all of his science aboard Indian Jade, could do little to thwart Toh in his now-distinctive low-crouching style - that he said he has moulded himself after an erstwhile occasional famous mentor, Joao Moreira - as he zoomed past with the insolence of youth to boot.
Solitaire ($60), who was finding the end of a more than one-year-long winless streak, scored by one length from Indian Jade with Dragon King holding on gamely for third spot, another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 10.04secs.
“I just listened to the trainer’s instructions. As he’s a big horse, I had to make sure he was well-balanced throughout the race,” said Toh in his familiar matter-of-fact way of toning down his success story.
“He was on the bridle most of the time, and I had to keep him together, coax him along, educate him.
“Once we were in the straight, I let him quicken and all I had to do was steer him in the right direction.
“It’s worked out good in the end and it helped that he also handled the ground very well. My claim certainly is a big help, too.
“But it’s true that I’m also riding with great confidence. I also have to thank the trainers for supporting me, and tonight it was Mr Baertschiger I have to thank for giving me such a good ride.”
A clearly won-over Baertschiger said Toh had golden hands, but most importantly, listened to instructions.
“He did exactly what I told him to do. Ride him second-last or third-last and let down on the outside,” said the Australian conditioner.
“Horses seem to run for this kid and there’s no doubt I will use him again when I get the chance.
“The horse ran well first-up, but was disappointing at his next two runs. We freshened him up and he’s come back good.
“I think the key to him is run him in sprints, 1200m tops. I don’t think he’s a miler, though he’s won on it before.
“He must also be ridden cold at the back and not up on the pace. When he does that, especially over the short sprints and if they roll along, then he has that burst.
“Over a longer trip and if he races handy, he runs flat.”
Solitaire has now notched a tally of four wins and 12 placings from 22 starts for prizemoney which has now bulged past the $260,000 mark for the Saints Stable.
