With trainer Daniel Meagher at the 2YO sales in New Zealand, it was the other ‘Dan’, right-hand man Danny Beasley (pictured) who was on hand to saddle the yard’s 40th winner on Tuesday night, Snip.
The former top Sydney jockey, who hung up his boots last year after spending nine successful seasons at Kranji to join the young Australian handler, is usually happier to stay behind the scenes, but with the boss not around, showed he could fill in for the helmsman role just as well.
Beasley said Snip was an ideal horse for apprentice jockeys, hence the engagement of Syahir Abdul, a rider who has been popping over from his master, Meagher’s neighbour Tan Kah Soon to give a helping hand of late.
Snip’s smart win in the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1000m could not have been a better reward for the young man.
“Snip is a great apprentice horse. MM (Mohd Mansor) Firdaus has won on him twice,” said Beasley who would be well qualified for such a statement given he was the first to win on the son of Snippetson at his Kranji debut in an Open Maiden race on April 14, 2017.
“He’s very easy to handle, and Syahir gave him a perfect 10-out-of-10 ride tonight. The horse had 57kgs and the four-kilo relief was a big help for sure.
“Syahir deserved the win as he has been riding work for us recently, especially this horse every morning. Honestly, I can’t remember him much during his earlier riding days, as I understand he spent some time in New Zealand as well, but he has really impressed me since, and he’s got good hands and good balance.
“It’s also a good thing he’s with Kah Soon who also has CC (Chin Chuen) Wong there and can guide him along as well.
“Dan will be happy with that win. He’s now in New Zealand and hopefully, he can find another Snip for us.
“He may be a dead-set Class 4 horse but he has been a very good horse to us. It’s not easy for any horse to do what he did - win four in a year.”
Snip ($32) certainly looked the goods when he was peeled off the fighting pair of race-leader and even-money favourite Lonhro Gold (Michael Rodd) and Petite Voix (Olivier Placais).
The four-kilo claim was arguably a major swinging factor as could be seen from the way Snip darted past with relative ease to go and post a 1 ¾-length win from Petite Voix with Lonhro Gold third another neck away. The winning time was 59.58 seconds for the 1000m dash.
“This horse has got good gate speed, but there were a lot of horses quicker than him tonight. I was quite happy to settle him on the fence behind the leader,” said Syahir.
“He was just tagging along behind and in the straight, once I took him to the outside, he put the race away quite comfortably.
“Big thanks to Dan Meagher for the support. I’ve been riding work for him lately, and it’s nice to get a winning ride from him.”
Snip has now taken his handy record to five wins and four seconds from 28 starts for total stakes earnings edging closer to the $190,000 mark for the Heran Racing Stable.
