An old acquaintance will be renewing ties with Singapore horse racing after more than 13 years at this Friday night meeting – leading New Zealand jockey Michael Coleman.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Together with the likes of fellow expat Kiwis Linda Ballantyne and Cathy Tremayne, Coleman used to rule the roost at Bukit Timah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh in the late 90s – 1998 and beginning of 1999 to be more precise.
The now 42-year-old jockey finished fourth on the 1998 Jockeys' Premiership on 44 winners, 67 winners behind then-perennial champion Saimee Jumaat. He even added a Cup race to his name: The 1998 Raffles Cup with Flint Zest for just-retired trainer Francis Nathan.
Coleman, who currently sits sixth on the New Zealand jockeys' premiership on 62 wins, was lured back to Singapore by Kranji trainer Alvin Tan, who was not around in those days, but met the Matamata jockey through mutual friends during one of his horse-buying visits in New Zealand.
Licensed to ride at Friday's Singapore Guineas meeting only, Coleman was booked by Tan to ride Smart Dragon in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) but has also picked up rides on Bulldozer for trainer Mok Zhan Lun in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) as well as Daring Fighter for Tan.
“I've always wanted to come back, but somehow never got the chance to do it,” said Coleman who arrived in Singapore on Tuesday night. “I haven't come back to Singapore in all these years but I did ride in Penang in 2004 for two weeks.
“When Alvin rang me and asked me if I could make it for the weekend, I accepted straightaway.
“The plan was to ride on the big night on Sunday as well, but unfortunately, there were already many jockeys riding on that day. Still, I'm very excited to get a chance to ride here again and test the waters.
“Alvin did try to get me to apply for a longer-term licence in Singapore before, but I had family commitments as I now have two kids.”
Coleman left the Malayan Racing Circuit to resettle in New Zealand where he quickly made his way into the top bracket. Known as a big-race jockey, Coleman has captured his country's biggest races such as the New Zealand Derby (twice) with Cut The Cake (2003) and Xcellent (2004) and the Kelt Capital Stakes with Xcellent in 2005.
But one race was missing to his trophy cabinet, the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, which he finally nailed down on March 17 with the Shaune Ritchie-trained Artistic at Trentham.
“That's a race I've always wanted to win and it was a big buzz to finally win it,” said Coleman who has also ridden in Australia where he counts two thirds in two Melbourne Cups as his biggest claim to fame (Second Coming in 2000 and Xcellent in 2007).
“It was a big thrill to win for Shaune. He is the son of trainer Frank Ritchie, who used to train the famous Bonecrusher.
“Back home, I ride mainly for trainers Mike Moroney (trainer of Xcellent and Second Coming), who now trains with just-retired jockey Chad Ormsby. I also ride for Murray Baker a fair bit.”
Coleman made his first appearance at Kranji on Wednesday morning and was seen shaking hands with many old friends around the canteen.
“It's good to be back and see some familiar faces like John O'Hara, Steven Burridge, and of course expat Kiwi trainers like Laurie Laxon and Stephen Gray,” said Coleman whose last MRA winner Victory Bell came for just-retired trainer Don Baertschiger on January 9, 1999 in Ipoh.
“A lot of the faces now are new. I did ride for Don Baertschiger, but I heard he just retired and his son Shane (who took over) was then very young.”
Tan said he immediately thought of Coleman when he nominated three runners in Friday's two-year-old feature. He had originally earmarked Oasis Spur for Coleman, but put him on Smart Dragon instead after Oasis Spur was scratched while Danny Beasley takes the ride on Golden Prince.
“I met Michael at the Ready To Run Sales and I also saw him ride a few times,” said Tan.
“He is a very experienced jockey with good communication skills. He is also very friendly and we've become good friends since we met.
"When I found out he was the jockey who rode Speedy Cat in a barrier trial win in New Zealand, I immediately rang him to get his feedback.
“Michael told me the horse still had plenty in hand. As I value his judgement, I did not hesitate in buying the horse, though I had to go slightly above my budget to get him.
“I'm grateful he was given a one-day licence by the Singapore Turf Club and I can only hope he can ride at least a winner on Friday.”
