Mark Walker Leads the Way

After a flying start to the new season, Malaysian apprentice jockey Zawari Razali saw things quieten down to a standstill for a few months, but Keen Dragon has got him back on track on Sunday.

The Kelantan-born rider even topped the apprentice jockey's ladder mid-January with five winners (all supplied by his master Mark Walker) on the board, but the purple patch did not last long.

Meanwhile, reigning champion apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen hit top gear and has since swept past to sit on top on 10 winners, but Keen Dragon's ($34) win in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m has given Zawari a nice boost.

The premiership title race was, however, the last thing on Zawari's mind as he jumped off to words of “Well done, Zawari!” from Walker.“I'll try my best, but right now, I just want to keep improving on my riding,” said the former Brian Dean apprentice jockey.

“Besides, it's too early in the season to think about the champion title. CC is a good jockey and he will be hard to catch.  I need good rides like today to have a chance. I thought Keen Dragon had a chance, going on his last run (flying second to Rusty Brown), but it was a tough race.

“He was also very fresh in the running. He is a very strong horse and he pulled a lot.  But when he found room in the straight, he hit the line very strongly.”

A six-year-old by Hidden Dragon, Keen Dragon was registering his sixth win from 34 starts for his Hong Kong owner - and quite possibly one of his last at Kranji.

“Just like Eatons Gold, he is booked to go to Malaysia, but we don't know when that will happen,” said Walker.

“The owner Willy, a bloodstock agent in Hong Kong, has a friend who trains in Malaysia and Keen Dragon is going to that trainer. Until then, he will keep racing here and maybe he can win one more race, who knows.

“It gets harder and harder for them as they get into an age where it's not easy to find races for them. He may race for another six months in Malaysia, and the main thing is he can get a new home more easily in Malaysia than here, like a riding school.

“I always try and think of ways to rehome my horses when they're done racing, and I hope Keen Dragon can find his way there soon and eventually find a new home. This week, I have Ready Fortune and Q Nine Magic ready to go up.”

Keen Dragon has now amassed prizemoney around the $290,000 mark for the Magus Equine Stable.

Boosted by Keen Dragon's win, the Walker-Zawari combination went on to collect a double later on when $76 shot En Civil unleashed a terrific finish to land the $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m.