The signs that the career of newly-licensed trainer Saimee Jumaat is starting to gain traction were given another boost after he hogged the first two races on Friday night.
The former eight-time Singapore champion jockey made his training debut on August 1, getting off to his first win with Shoqeet a fortnight later. Two more winners, Hongchen and Ebraz have since beefed up his tally before Hee’s Forte and Danzeb took the score to five wins for a strike rate that has now hit a decent mark of 10%.
Of the two, Hee’s Forte’s win in the opening event, the $35,000 Class 5 race over 1000m was definitely less expected, but the $151 shot relished the handy spot he was parked in by apprentice jockey Shafrizal Saleh before quickening at the top of the straight to outsprint race-leader Rory (Benny Woodworth) and score by three parts of a length from the fast-finishing Flying Shadow (John Sundradas).
Rory held on for third place another length away. The winning time was 59.38 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
Danzeb garnered a bit more support in the following race, the $35,000 Maiden race over 1200m to start as the third favourite ($25), but jockey Oscar Chavez, on the other hand, thought he was sitting on a dicey proposition after only 200m.
“This horse is not a frontrunner. I was surprised he began so well and led,” said the Panamanian-born jockey.
“It took me a whole to settle him and I was thinking this will be either good or bad especially that at his last run, he was caught wide and weakened out of it.
“I didn’t want to go too soon as he’s a one-pacer, but to my surprise, he kept slogging his way to the line.”
Saimee said the Thewayyouare five-year-old has been knocking on the door for a while, but felt his last run might have been one too many.
“I thought he had enough after his last run. The race might have come too soon and flattened him a little,” said Saimee.
“I gave him a break and luckily, he’s come back in good shape first-up. Barrier No 1 was a bonus and Oscar rated him beautifully in front.”
Saimee was equally praiseful of Shafrizal, even if he might have been a little biased in his compliments.
“Shafrizal is my cousin. I’m very happy he won his second race here (after Ahmar for Mark Walker back in April),” he said.
“He does ride work for me and I try to support him when I can. It’s good for him.
“The horse himself tailed off badly at his last run and I couldn’t quite figure what happened. He’s bounced back tonight and it’s a nice pleasant surprise.”
Raced by the Formidable Stable, Hee’s Forte was posting his fourth win, but his first for Saimee as he recorded his first two for Laurie Laxon and his third one for Sonny Yeoh, both trainers who recently retired from Singapore racing.
Nova Classic (Manoel Nunes) ran second half-a-length astern with favourite The Odds (Michael Rodd) a certainty beaten when he was hopelessly held for a run for most of the straight. When he found daylight, he flew in for third another length away.
The winning time was 1min 12.11secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
