Former champion apprentice jockey A’Isisuhairi 'Harry' Kasim was booked for just one solitary ride on Friday night, and he certainly did not let the opportunity go begging.
Riding Rainbow Royal for trainer Alwin Tan in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1100m on Polytrack, A’Isisuhairi jumped on his scooter to head for the Club with enough confidence he could hit bull’s eye with just the one bullet. Besides riding the three-year-old colt at his last two outings for two fourths, he also partnered him at two barrier trials and even during his early education.
That close association has now paid handsome dividends for the Malaysian jockey, who throughout the speed dash, had his mount travelling in a beautiful spot despite being the meat in the sandwich between leader Super Ball (Mark Ewe) and Super Warrior (Danny Beasley), who travelled three deep.
Upon straightening up, Rainbow Royal levelled up with Super Ball before pulling away to a commanding break which would soon turn into a foregone conclusion.
Cavatina (Benny Woodworth) boxed on well but had to settle for second place just under three lengths away with Super Warrior third another half-a-length away. Sent out at $32, Rainbow Royal clocked the time of 1min 5.71secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack to open his account for the Royal Stable, the same owners as handy four-year-old Casing Royal, also prepared by Tan.
“I know this horse very well. I’ve helped Alwin with his first trackwork and I told him then he gave me a good feeling and he had ability,” said A’Isisuhairi.
“I think I trialled him once and he was still very green. Oscar Chavez rode him at his first start, and he pulled up sore, as I think he hurt himself at the gates.
“Alwin has done a good job to bring him back to fitness. The horse has really improved since and he went in quietly in the gates.
“At his last two starts, he showed speed but it was a bit of a stop and start affair when they slowed up the pace. It didn’t suit him.
“But tonight, there was a genuine pace to the race and I just let him stride to the front and he won a very nice race in the end.”
Tan said the decision to give the son of Captain Sonador an unfettered run up on the pace was the key ingredient to the maiden win, and he would cap his distances to 1200m as he seemed that way inclined for now.
“At his first two runs, he was still a two-year-old meeting some strong runners and could not quite measure up,” said the current leading trainer (62 wins, eight clear of Patrick Shaw).
“Tonight the field was smaller and he was jumping from a good barrier. As Harry knows him well, it’s worked out very well. I told him to just let him stride out and not restrain him.
“He’s done a good job to win. I think he’s a horse who needed some time to improve and the shorter distance tonight also helped.
“I will probably just keep him to 1100m-1200m on the Polytrack as he seems to be more of a sprinter for now.”
