Comeback jockey Jose Verenzuela did not take long to get back in the winner’s enclosure when he scrubbed Play On home in a blanket finish in the $35,000 Class 5 race over 1200m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Raffles Cup-winning jockey, who has a habit of taking long breaks back at his Californian base in between his Singapore stints, only resumed riding duties last Friday aboard only one ride, Excavator, who finished out of the placings in the Group 3 Merlion Trophy.
By a happy coincidence, Verenzuela’s last winner at Kranji before his break was Play On on December 9 last year, wrapping up another successful season despite not commanding the biggest book of rides among the expatriate jockeys.
The experienced 44-year-old Venezuelan got home 28 times, including notching his first Singapore Group 1 success aboard Flax in the Raffles Cup (1800m), from only 168 rides to record the second-highest strike rate (16.67%) after champion jockey Joao Moreira and just make it into the Top 10.
An early win at his new 2013 tenure will surely ease the burden of having to prove trainers and connections he still had a safe pair of hands, and mostly make his presence felt among the even more competitive riding ranks currently dominated by the Brazilians, but the carefree rider was his usual nonchalant self at the post-race interview.
“It’s always a bit hard when you’ve spent a long time away, but hitting the gym 2-3 times a week sure helped," he said. "Getting back on the horses is the best way to get you fit anyway.
“I think my fitness is there already as I didn’t blow at all after my ride on Friday and I’m not feeling sore at all.
“It’s nice to break the ice really quick as you get your eye in early. Trainers like Bruce Marsh (Play On’s trainer), Desmond Koh, Michael Freedman have been good to me and I’m glad they are still giving me rides this year.
“To be honest, I’ve not been knocking on the door of many trainers since I came back. I was more concerned about my fitness and getting in touch with the horses on the tracks.”
Verenzuela said Play On was a horse he knew well and he had to be ridden positive to bring out his best.
“I was always happy where I was even if he could not cross over, but I was the one in charge as I was putting some pressure on the horse on my inside (Real Steel),” said Verenzuela.
“We raced head to head in the home straight. It’s only when he switched his lead that he went again.
“I was a little worried in the closing stages as I could feel the other horses coming back. I thought (Oscar) Chavez got me (aboard Boss Can I Can), but the bob went my way.
“Another stride, I woudn’t have finished second, but fourth!”
The Cullen six-year-old was indeed lucky to scrape home the winner as 100m from the finishing line, he was clearly running on fumes after doing all the bullocking work outside Real Steel (Ivaldo Santana). After being headed, the latter seemed to be coming back with another head of steam while Boss Can I Can was storming home with a withering run on the outside.
But Verenzuela was able to coax Play On ($56) right on the peg, prevailing by a short head from Boss Can I Can with Real Steel third, separated by a similar margin on the inside. The winning time was 1min 12.13secs.
