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Shafrizal feels 'pet horse' Red Claw will be tested this Friday

3 minute read

If there is a duo that seems to get on like a house on fire at Kranji, it’s Red Claw and apprentice jockey Shafrizal Saleh.

Shafrizal Saleh is seen here working on Track 4.
Shafrizal Saleh is seen here working on Track 4. Picture: Singapore Turf Club

The Malaysian rider has jumped on the Bianconi seven-year-old on five occasions for three wins (from his tally of four wins).

With two of these three wins coming at his last two starts in Class 4 company over 1100m, the pair has an opportunity to make it three on the bounce this Friday in the last race, the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m on Polytrack.

Shafrizal modestly said his skills were no more special than other jockeys' (ex-Kranji jockey Olivier Placais was the other rider to win on Red Claw) to get the best out of Red Claw, but it does look like trainer Daniel Meagher's ward "runs for him".

While trainer Michael Clements' apprentice jockey suggested his long-rein riding style might suit some horses, it may take more than that to pull off a four-in-a-row on Friday.

"I don't know what it is to be honest. Mr Meagher put me on him for the first time earlier this year (January 18) and we won," said Shafrizal.

"I don't ride him in trackwork and don't know him that well, but I know him a lot more now (after I won two more races on him).

"I think if you look at his other races, he is held back whereas I let him stride along on a long rein. To me, he is a horse who runs better when he is not restrained.

"But I think it'll be tougher for him to win tomorrow. There are better horses in the race this time, but I hope he can still give me a good run."

Meagher did not really subscribe to the "perfect chemistry" theory regarding the close affinity between Red Claw and Shafrizal. The Australian is just a fan full stop.

"It's not just Red Claw. I like this kid, he rides very well," he said.

"We put him on a lot of our horses, not just Red Claw. He's a quiet young man with lovely hands and great balance.

"He's got the breeding to be a good horseman as he's related to Saifudin Ismail and Saimee Jumaat. He's been in Singapore for a while but we've really seen him blossom in the last couple of years.

"Credit to Mike for having done a good job with Shafrizal."

A winner of 43 races in Malaysia where he spent his earlier formative years, Shafrizal took a long time to earn his first win at his new base in Singapore after he crossed the Causeway in September 2016.

After 88 fruitless rides, he finally won his first race at Kranji on Ahmar for trainer Mark Walker on April 16, 2017.

Even if the floodgates were not flung wide open thereafter, he has slowly picked his way up the top echelon of apprentice jockeys at Kranji with another 22 winners to his haul, with this season his most successful.

The 31-year-old rider currently sits in fourth place on 10 winners, five behind Wong Chin Chuen, with the second and third-placed riders, Syahir Abdul and Riduan Abu Bakar (currently suspended for three months), also tied on 10 winners.

"I've having a good season. Mr Clements supports me and I also get support from other trainers like Mr Meagher, a big thanks to Mr Clements and all the trainers and owners who put me on their horses," said Shafrizal.

"I'm not really thinking about the championship, I just want to ride as many winners as possible and keep learning. It's great we now have Matthew Pumpa as coach, his guidance and advice help us apprentices a lot."


Singapore Turf Club

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