A Te Akau Graduate Shines ...

Kif Toh (pictured right above) may not be a name familiar to you all but following two years working for Te Akau he has returned home to make a fairytale start as a jockey in Singapore.

“I only had a couple of rides in New Zealand but that helped me get rid of my nerves and to win my first ride here was great,” said Kif.

“I was happy to be granted my licence and although the win was quite surprising, I had done my homework and was quite relaxed. I did what I had learned and just did my best on the horse.  That first winner helped me a lot and was written up in the newspapers,” said Kif.

“Everyone started to recognise me overnight and eventually I rode three winners from my first four rides. So my reputation became even greater. People thought I was something special and they started to see my effort and all the hard work I put in.

“Trainers began to put me on and eventually I got another two winners, including one for my boss, so I had four wins from seven rides and then last Friday (April 11) I got another winner.

“It was Solitaire (Fusaichi Pegasus) and I rode it from the back and I was so pleased with that ride. Everyone was very pleased with the ride. The horse was not up to Class 3 standard, it was too high for him and they never expected I could get the horse to run so well. It was probably my weight claiming that helped the horse but I also did what I learned about the horse and kept myself balanced and tried my best and the horse ran for me,” said Kif.

Previously seen riding track work day in and day out at Matamata, in the low crouched style of his friend and idol Joao Moreira, Kif was always grateful for the advice handed out by Jason Bridgman, Pam Gerard and Tommy Hazlett when it came to improving in the saddle.

Fair to say Kif had his doubters as to whether he would make the grade as a jockey but with his attitude of doing everything possible to help anyone, in the karma belief that only good will come from it, his determination has won through for him and he is now a talking point in one the biggest racing powers in the world.

Since making a winning debut on March 15, Kif has clocked up five wins from nineteen mounts in his first month of riding and boasts the highest percentage amongst the apprentice jockeys in Singapore.

All out when riding his BMX through his teens, and fearless on his motorbike through the expressways of Singapore, Kif (26) opted to ride horses for the thrill and while his four-kilo claim is a big help it is probably as much his daring that kicked his career off in overdrive.

When injury forced his father to give up truck driving in Singapore, and turn to therapeutic massage instead, Kif resolved that he would make $100,000 to set his father up in his own business. And while lofty when the plan was hatched, continued success could turn the dream into reality.

Kif is apprenticed to trainer Michael Clements in Singapore and there will be no one more thrilled by his fledging success after keeping tabs throughout his stint in New Zealand.
Reality called at the end of the last Kranji meeting when Kif was handed out a suspension for careless riding. “I pleaded guilty straightaway and knew I had made a mistake,” said Kif. “So, I will learn from that and be more aware next time. I am back riding on Sunday (April 20) and have five rides.

“I came back here (Singapore) and was struggling for one year, riding trials and doing what I should do and just kept trying to get my licence. They (Singapore Turf Club) got to a point where they did not want to keep me waiting and just gave me the licence. For now, I should be able to do well and get more rides. Some more trainers are supporting me now and every week I have been riding for different trainers.

“They like the way I sit and give me good feedback,” said Kif. “I am patient and calm and I don't panic. I want the horses to finish off strong and the trainers see my positioning and the confidence I have. There is work to do on my style but they like my effort and that I keep learning.

“I am getting better at making a quick decision in a race and that can help me win a lot of races. If you can get a good position then the horse can finish up doing well. I have been doing my homework on the horses to see what the particular way is I can help them accelerate and try not to have unnecessary movement so they get unbalanced. Keeping the horse going, that is what I am always trying to do and I watch all the videos to see how the good jockeys ride. How they make their position and what mistakes they make and I keep asking questions to myself about how to ride best and then it comes naturally in the race. I want to learn to make decisions faster as to what is the best thing to do in a race and if you don't do your homework then you won't think it right.

“So, I think all the hard work is paying off for me,” said Kif. “So far is so good and all the trainers are happy with that.

“In the interview after my first I said thanks to Te Akau and that for two years they taught me a lot and I learned a lot from them. And please say thanks to Jason.

“Joao Moreira messaged me on Facebook and he saw my first winner. He said, ‘good on you boy, you are doing well now and finally you are there'. He knows I had been trying very hard overseas and he helped me a lot with my riding. He taught me about pace and he said I sit well. My style of sitting on a horse is more like him and he taught me the low crouched style to keep the horse balanced so you are at one with the horse. The lower you go, the more streamlined you are to cut through the air and you stick to the way the horse is running.”

Well done Kif - everyone at Te Akau is very proud of you!