Apprentice jockey Hasri Rahiman won his first race for his new master Mok Zhan Lun when he brought Host The Nation home with a well-timed run on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Singaporean had not been seen around the tracks since he left trainer Shane Baertschiger last year. Discouraged, Hasri, who had up to then ridden only four winners in two years of apprenticeship, even thought of giving the game up.
But one last roll of the dice saw him plucking up his courage to front up at Mok’s stable doorstep. It was good timing as the Singaporean handler was at the time looking for an apprentice jockey and Hasri fitted the bill.
One year on, Hasri vindicated Mok’s decision to take a chance on him with a polished ride aboard Host The Nation in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1200m.
It’s been a long tupsy-turvy journey since that first career win with The Hustler on November 2, 2012, but Hasri hopes he has now turned the corner.
“I almost decided I would not come back after things didn’t work out with Shane,” said Hasri.
“I was unemployed for three months and I then decided to have one last try. I approached Mok, and luckily, he took me as his apprentice. I’d like to thank him for giving me a second chance.
“He is a good boss and even though he is quite flexible, he won’t fail to tell me if I rode a bad race, like last Friday with Philanthropist. He told me I could not hold my position and that was why I lost the race.
“This is my first win for him and I hope he will keep supporting me and I repay him his trust.”
Mok, who was at his 15th win for the season, said Hasri certainly had much room for improvement, but at least listened up when he deserves a spray.
“I had a few words with him about his judgement and his positioning. It seems to have paid off,” said Mok.
Host The Nation, a six-year-old chestnut by Host has now recorded three wins and 11 placings from 37 starts for stakes earnings in excess of $155,000 for the Bombaata Stable.
