Nooresh Juglall is hoping for a good haul from his handy book of rides this weekend, the bonus being if one of them can come as a wedding present to trainer Ricardo Le Grange’s brother Daniel.
The young Mauritian will indeed be a busy jockey this Friday and Sunday with seven and eight rides respectively, meaning he sits out only three races from the maximum of 18. Nine of Juglall’s 15 rides are for his main supporter Le Grange.
The first-year South African handler along with his other stable jockey Barend Vorster and family are currently in England to attend his younger brother’s wedding. It’s assistant-trainer Jacci de Tert who is in charge during his absence.
While any winner – Juglall also rides for four other trainers this weekend - would be welcomed, Juglall would be even more rapt with at least one Le Grange winner to toast to the special occasion, especially as he has met Daniel and the bride at their visits to Singapore.
“It would be good if I could give Ricardo a winner as a wedding present for his brother Daniel,” said Juglall.
“The horses are all well, and it’s a credit to the good job Jacci and the boys at the stable are doing while Ricardo is away.”
One horse he would particularly like to see run an improved race and hopefully lose his maiden tag on Sunday is Mokastar, who will be at his first race as a three-year-old in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m.
The Le Grange-trained son of Poet’s Voice showed promise as a juvenile but did not put in a blow in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) won by Be Bee. On that night, Juglall rode stablemate Captain Jamie who finished three spots ahead in eighth.
They once paired up at Mokastar’s debut when second to Yaya Papaya in the third Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, but it was his next two runs at the fourth and fifth Leg – with Vorster astride - that really grabbed Juglall.
“He was competitive as a two-year-old, especially at his second to Mr Hanks and third to Ferocious,” he said.
“I expect him to run in the tierce in this easier race. To me, he is more mature now and he is also the class act in that race.
“He is working well. This morning I worked him at half-pace and he felt really well within himself.
“My only concern is the trip as the 1000m may be a bit on the sharp side. But he’s got a good draw (five) and he’s wearing winkers for the first time, so fingers crossed.”
Juglall’s chances are arguably a notch lower on Friday, but last-start winner Mighty Kenny remains a lively chance of doubling up even if he is up in grade in the small seven-field lined up in the $100,000 Open Benchmark 89 race over the metric mile.
“Mighty Kenny is up against a stronger field tonight, but he is a Polytrack specialist and he has maintained his condition,” said Juglall who drove the Shinzig five-year-old to a thrilling seventh career win in a Kranji Stakes C race over 1400m on July 23.
“He has a light weight (51kgs) and he loves the mile. He won four of his seven races over that trip, and he also scored a good win over 1400m at his last start.
“It’s a small field and he should run well.”
