In-form and champion-elect apprentice jockey Shafiq Rizuan wrapped up his fantastic season with a winner as he readies for an enforced holiday after Sunday’s meeting.
Suspended for six weeks, accumulated from three separate charges of careless riding, Shafiq, who is all but home and hosed in this year’s apprentice premiership unless reigning champion A’Isisuhairi Kasim picks up winners by the spades in the last six meetings (he needs 24 winners), brought up his 54th and final 2015 win with the Mok Zhan Lun-trained Mr Nevermind.
The win in the $75,000 Novice race over 1200m on Polytrack may not have been in the same glamorous hues as his Gold Cup heroics with Cooptado at his previous win, but Shafiq was still delighted he was able to sign off his “annus mirabilis” on a winning note.
“It’s been a great year, my best season by far. I only started in March and I rode lots of doubles, trebles and even a five-timer (June 21),” said Shafiq.
“Then the Gold Cup. I thought I was in a dream, but it’s also been a lot of hard work to get back at this level.
“Unfortunately my season has been cut short with the three suspensions, but oh well, it will give me the chance to go and enjoy early holidays with the family, back home in Kelantan and then maybe Bali or Krabi.
“Then I’ll be back for more next year, and hopefully another successful season.”
No doubt music to the ears of his fans who were certainly treated to a supreme Shafiq aboard Mr Nevermind. The pair looked a lost cause at the furlong mark when they copped a check, but without losing his cool, Shafiq capitalised on an opening on the outside and delivering that efficient half Kiwi-half continental riding style that has proved lethal at 53 previous rides, he got Mr Nevermind home by a neck from Golden Mile (Wong Chin Chuen).
Above The Skyline (Benny Woodworth) ran third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 11.65secs for the 1200m on the alternative track.
On his farewell winner for the year, Shafiq said he thought he would be a certainty beaten at the 200m.
“I travelled in a good spot and had plenty of horse, but I didn’t have much room in the home straight,” said Shafiq.
“It’s only when a horse rolled out that I got a gap and he came out with a big sprint home. I would have been unlucky if he had lost.”
Mok said the Iffraaj three-year-old puts in his best performances on Polytrack, but he did feel nervous when his ward was landlocked in the home straight.
“I was anxious when he got checked and had nowhere to go, but once he got into the clear, he powered home,” said the Singaporean handler.
“He’s a small horse with a big heart and is very honest on Polytrack.”
Mr Nevermind has now won two races from four starts for stakes earnings closing in on the $90,000 mark for his owners, the MR Stable.
