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Singapore champion apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong is confident promising galloper Ironclad will finally go one better at his third go on Friday.

To the talented rider, the only son of former Hong Kong great Akeed Mofeed should have already shed his maiden tag if not for his luckless run at the barriers (outermost alley at both starts), especially at his last start in an Open Maiden race over 1200m on January 17, when he was trapped four wide for most of the trip.

Punted down to odds-on favouritism that day, Ironclad punched the breeze throughout, but still ran on gamely to whittle down the margin on the winner Cavalla Court.

Whether it will be a case of third time lucky in Friday's $20,000 Open Maiden (1400m) remains to be seen, but Kok's confidence level certainly went up a few notches when he found out they didn't get the cheap seats this time.

"I was very happy to see he drew barrier six this morning," said Kok, who has already established a comfortable lead in the Singapore apprentice jockeys' premiership in 2020.

"He should be able to get some cover this time. At his first two starts, he drew bad barriers and that cost him the race.

"He was caught four wide without cover at his last run. If he had drawn a better gate, I have no doubt he would have won the race."

When asked if Ironclad will lap up the extra 200m going with the way the four-year-old hit the line strongly at his two outings, Kok was adamant the six furlongs were still his best distance at this stage of his budding career, but the 1400m should not be a worry either.

"To me, 1200m suits him best," said Kok, a noted student of form.

"He's run over 1000m and 1200m, but because he was drawn wide, we couldn't ride him somewhere closer to the pace.

"In saying this, he's had two runs under the belt now, and I think he's fit enough to go for 1400m."

Kok, who is the only rider not to have come home empty-handed in the seven meetings put astern in the new season, is looking to keep the unblemished record going at this weekend's meetings with his usual healthy book of rides – seven on Friday and eight on Saturday, singling out Ironclad for his boss Steven Burridge as his best chance.

"I've got a nice book of rides. Ironclad is probably my best ride, he should win," he said.

"I also fancy Magnum Force in the first race (Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m on the Long Course). He's drawn one and I think he should be competitive in that field."