Two-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes is not too concerned by the slow start to his fourth season at Kranji.
The Brazilian rider began well enough when favourite Kam’s Comet obliged at his third ride on the 2016 opening day on January 1, but his 14 subsequent rides all drew blanks, even though most of them were as usual well in the market. Among them were three well-supported favourites Speedy Dragon ($9), Wonderful ($10) and Duke Of Azmaan ($10) who all bit the dust.
Some naysayers have already predicted the former six-time Macau champion jockey was unlikely to enjoy the same runaway success as at his previous two Singapore seasons (123 winners, 36 clear of Corey Brown last year and 108 winners, 25 clear of Danny Beasley in 2014). The surprise early table-topper is Mauritian jockey Nooresh Juglall on four wins.
Nunes’ serene smile needed little guessing about his thoughts on such crystal balls, but as far as he was concerned, he is just about to throttle up the engine.
“It wasn’t a flying start, but I’ve had a winner and I can’t complain. Everybody is entitled to an opinion, but my horses ran well for most of them,” said Nunes who also picked up two seconds, two thirds and three fourths.
“The competition is always tough and this year is no different. We sure have plenty of depth among the jockeys.
“But there is a long way to go and with time, it is the support you get every week that matters. Most jockeys have to split their rides among different trainers but I am lucky to get most of my support from Mark Walker.
“He has both the quality and the quantity and he also has a lot of new young horses coming through. I am sure the coming weeks will be even better for us.”
The new Singapore champion trainer, who returns from his New Zealand holidays this week, certainly saddles a strong team this weekend – 17 runners of which three are singled out by Nunes among his leading chances – The Cosmos, Best Jade and Viviano.
“I think I have a better book of rides this week. The Cosmos has a good chance on Friday, and Nova Strike (trained by Alwin Tan) as well,” he said.
“On Sunday, I’m counting a lot on Viviano and Best Jade. Viviano showed plenty of fight when he won at his first race and I think he can improve further.
“I rode Best Jade at his two barrier trial wins here but could not ride him at his debut as I was suspended but he ran a nice third and I think he can win this Sunday.”
Whether Nunes’ crystal ball is better remains to be seen, but it is odds-on he will do his utmost to lift his less than flattering current strike rate of 5.9% to a region closer to his more typical 19-20%, if not this weekend, but at least in the next upcoming weeks.
Meanwhile, rival jockey Brown makes his 2016 debut this weekend after serving a two-day ban that effectively saw him stretch the two-week December break by another week.
“It’s been a good break in Vegas, LA and New York with the family,” said the Australian hoop.
“We wanted a White Christmas in New York, but unfortunately it didn’t snow, but that’s okay as we were spared the traffic jams!
“Anyway, it’s good to be back. I’ve been working overtime at the barrier trials, especially on Tuesday. I’ve got six (Friday) and five (Sunday) rides, which is good as I didn’t want to get myself wringing-wet for a first day back.”
