It’s taken 23 rides – and a most undesirable interruption of eight meetings of suspension – for French jockey Marc Lerner to finally enjoy his first taste of success in Singapore on Friday night.
Ironically, it was Moritz Eclipse, the horse who has been blowing hot and cold for the previously German-based rider, who turned provider in the penultimate race, the $80,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1400m.
The Darci Brahma six-year-old nearly gave the US-trained 200-odd race winner a most unexpected fairytale start at his first day of riding in Singapore on September 14, when as a $187 roughie, he rattled home to beat all but the winner, stablemate Lim’s Lightning.
Though Lerner didn’t win, he had to be pleased with coming so close at his first day at the office – only to have the note soured by a two-day suspension on the same horse for causing interference to Yaya Papaya at the 300m.
His introduction to Singapore racing actually went further downhill. Lerner was again rubbed out one week later, this time aboard Jupiter Gold (while replacing the suspended Olivier Placais) in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup – for two charges of careless riding again – four days and two days.
That was not quite what the son of French trainer Carlos Lerner had been expecting at his first weeks in Singapore, but the 27-year-old is no quitter. He stuck it out and returned from suspension last Friday.
Lerner was not exactly doing cartwheels when the cards came out on Wednesday.
From his small book of three rides, Moritz Eclipse was probably his best chance to break the duck – the other two are Master Banger (Friday) and Hooga Net (Sunday) - but Lerner was not holding his breath, especially after getting on Moritz Eclipse in trackwork.
“I didn’t get many rides this weekend. Moritz Eclipse is a horse I know quite well as I finished second on him at my first race meeting here, but I didn’t like his work during the week, he felt stiff,” said Lerner.
“But during the race, I had him settled in a lovely spot, just like at the first time I rode him. He was actually very comfortable and travelling better than I thought he would.
“He was in trouble in the straight, though. He couldn’t find the gap, and he hit a bit of a flat spot for a second or two.
“He took a while to ping, but once he got the split, he reproduced the same finish he showed the last time.”
Once the traffic cleared up, Moritz Eclipse ($106) indeed burst clear, coming with a well-timed run to deny Whose Else’s (Nooresh Juglall) of a certain win, getting up by three parts of a length with third place going to the fast-finishing Galileo’s Approach (Matthew Kellady). The winning time was 1min 22.83secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
“I’m glad I’ve finally won my first race here. Moritz Eclipse repeated the same performance as the last time, and I’d like to thank the trainer, Steven Burridge and the owner (Mr Iman Hartono of Eclipse Stable) for the opportunity,” he added.
“I really like Singapore, even if it’s been a tough start. You need good horses, and I hope this first win will help bring me better support.
“I’m here to work hard and ride winners, not for holidays. But that’s the past now, and we move on.”
Lerner let in that he actually came close to missing out on that first winning ride, but he managed to dodge that latest stroke of bad luck this time.
“I was sick, I had food poisoning during the week, and I was struggling with my weight,” he said.
“After the first ride (Master Banger), I went for a jog on the outside of the track, and luckily, I was able to make the weight (54kgs for Moritz Eclipse).”
Burridge was certainly one person who was glad all’s well that ended well for all concerned, especially for Lerner, a jockey he has put on his horses, both at trackwork and in races, from Day 1.
“I’m glad for Marc as he was crook. He was struggling to bring his weight down,” said Burridge.
“He’s had no luck since he’s been here, but things have worked out for him this time. He rode this horse very well.
“After a good run with Marc when he only got beat by Lim’s Lightning, Moritz Eclipse ran second-up, he was very average. Then he had no luck at his next start, he should have run a lot better.
“He was struggling in Class 3 company, was probably better off at the top of Class 4. I couldn’t back him to win tonight, but he’s done a good job to bounce back.
“I’m also happy for his owner Mr Hartono, who has been a big supporter of my stable for a while along with his racing manager Sully (Eoin Sullivan).”
Moritz Eclipse has now won five races and placed five times from 31 starts for stakes earnings close to the $270,000 mark for the Eclipse Stable.
