Evergreen galloper Waikato will have a new jockey when he lines-up in the $125,000 Open Handicap over 1200m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Tan Wei Li, the 4kg claiming apprentice who is currently riding in good form, has been entrusted with the mount on the Laurie Laxon-trained galloper.
Laxon's successful ploy of using in form 4kg claiming apprentice jockeys on his eight-year-old was highlighted earlier in the year when Noh Senari scored back-to-back wins on the gelding back in April.
After opening his winning account on October 21 aboard the Mok Zhan Lun-trained Lightning Mac, a steady stream of winners has fallen the way of Tan in the weeks since where he now has five victories to his name, the latest last Friday night when riding a well judged race aboard Ten Ten Lai for Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye.
Dennis Oon is the only other claiming apprentice to have ridden Waikato since Noh's back-to-back victories, finishing sixth behind Capablanca in a 1200m Open Handicap just under five weeks after finishing third to Gitano Hernando in the International Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m on May 22.
Visiting New Zealand apprentice James McDonald rode Waikato to a close second behind Ato on July 17 before senior riders Joao Moreira and John Powell took over in the saddle at his next five appearances.
Waikaito hasn't raced since finishing ninth, beaten 10 lengths, behind Super Easy in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy over 1400m on November 11.
With Laxon himself enjoying a “freshen up” after attending the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, his right-hand man, stable supervisor Shane Ellis, is expecting an improved showing from the versatile galloper.
“He seems pretty well within himself,” said Ellis. “The 4kg claim will obviously help him a lot and he has run well for the kids before.
“He put in a bit of a bad one last time, but he's done that before and then come out and won.
“He's just a marvel of an old horse and puts in all the time, but he's meeting a good line-up this week but should still run well.”
Waikato has been one of Singapore's most consistent gallopers after commencing his career as a late three-year-old in 2007.
Considered weak and immature early in his career, Laxon kept Waikato to sprinting before gradually stepping him up in ground where he has finished fourth and third respectively in the last two SIA Cups.
By Pins from Skywalker Wilkes, Waikato has faced the starter on 59 occasions, winning 17 races with a further 19 minor placings and earning Laxon's Silver Fern Racing Stable more than $2.6 million in prizemoney.
Meanwhile, plans to take Laxon's other multi-million dollar performer Better Than Ever to Hong Kong for the big International meeting next month have been scrapped.
Better Than Ever, which had been nominated for the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 11, is currently enjoying a break in the resting stables up on the hill at the back of the course.
After winning the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile over 1600m on October 2, Better Than Ever, ridden by Saimee Jumaat, pulled-up lame in finishing at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Raffles Cup over 1800m on October 23.
“He had a foot abscess which burst out after his last run,” said Ellis.
“Saimee said he travelled well to the home straight but when he asked him to lengthen he was getting his head up and wasn't feeling right.
“That has ruled him out of Hong Kong but he's really enjoying his spell at the moment and he'll come back in good order.”
