Australian jockey Danny Beasley has not taken too long to give Kranji racegoers a reminder of his riding skills after he brought home his first winner at his Singapore comeback stint on Tuesday.
Booked for 10 rides (one was scratched on Tuesday) over the “long” Chinese New year weekend, Beasley performed decently with two seconds from his first four rides last Friday, and from six rides at the Fortune Bowl meeting on Tuesday, he had to wait until his last ride aboard Kiss Me ($18) to finally check into the winner’s circle, a place he last visited on December 14, 2014 when he steered his last Kranji winner Dragon Dynasty home.
Beasley rode for seven years with great success at Kranji from 2007 to 2014, notching up a tally of more than 420 winners, but returned to Sydney at the beginning of last year to continue his riding career. He paid a cameo visit last November at the EW Barker Trophy-Longines Singapore Gold Cup meeting in November, though without success, but that then paved the way to a longer five-month licence from February 1.
The 40-year-old was glad at being given another chance to ride at a venue he has always called his “second home” and though the Alwin Tan-trained Kiss Me’s win came up in a modest Kranji Stakes D race, he read a lot of symbolism in it.
“The race is called the Year of Success Stakes. Maybe it’s an omen for me and Alwin we will have a successful year together,” said Beasley.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity that the Club has given me to ride here and to win for Alwin, one of my main supporters and a close friend, is even more special.
“The other happy coincidence is that I rode Kiss Me to his maiden win and he was the one to give me that first win back today.
“But even though it’s just a Kranji Stakes D win, it means so much more to me. It’s first and foremost a win about friendship and people.
“Alwin and his stable supervisor Joe have become great friends of mine and to win a race for them today and to enjoy this success together is very special.
“But it’s not only Alwin who has supported me from the day I walked through. The likes of Laurie Laxon and Steven Burridge have also given me a go and I’m thankful to them too.
“To be able to ride a winner at only my second day of riding, albeit in such a race, is just great. This little fella (Kiss Me) is the sort who likes to be covered because he has only a short sharp sprint.
“He’s a funny horse because he struggles in Class 4 races, but when he comes to Kranji Stakes D races and he carries a bit of weight, he goes well.”
Tan, who was consolidating his current first spot on the log with that 14th win was overcome with emotion as his group of owners, the Kiss Me Stable, went downstairs to greet Beasley to a rapturous welcome.
“It’s good for Danny to get his first winner back here and the best part is that winner is for us!’ said the Singaporean handler.
“Danny works very hard. He rides five to six horses for me every morning and deserves every success that comes his way.
“It’s also particularly pleasing the first win came on Kiss Me, a horse he knows well for having won on him at his maiden win.
“I was praying so hard for Kiss Me to win for Dan and I’m so glad he’s done it. I’m sure he’ll have more winners from now on.”
Kiss Me, a five-year-old by Casino Prince was at his third win from 36 starts with stakes money now approaching the $210,000 mark for his connections. He defeated Mighty Man (Elione Chaves) by 1 ½ lengths with $15 favourite Katagas (Michael Rodd) third a short margin away.
The winning time was 1min 10.87secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
