Spice is Nice

It was a very special evening of racing at Kranji as Secret Spice ground out a determined win for her Fortuna owners - trainer Mark Walker and her Karaka Sale purchaser David Ellis.  Importantly too, it was the return of Te Akau's champion apprentice Shafiq Rusof to the winner's circle - and a milestone 100th career win celebration!

The Singapore Turf Club reports:

Secret Spice's maiden win in an Initiation race over 1200m may not go down as a race many will remember down the road but former Singapore champion apprentice jockey Shafiq Rizuan will probably beg to differ.

The Sakhee's Secret filly's first success in seven runs handed Shafiq double the reason to celebrate. It was his much-awaited 100th win as well as his first win since coming back from a lengthy suspension.

The Malaysian apprentice, who is still indentured to trainer Mark Walker, was outed after Singapore stewards took exception to his inappropriate use of the whip on Kingsley in a race on March 23, 2014 and banned him for two months.

More salt was rubbed into the wound when he was dealt an even harsher suspension - six months for not riding Ocean Present to the satisfaction of the Selangor Turf Club stewards in a race at Kuala Lumpur on August 9 last year. As the suspensions were not served concurrently, Shafiq was sidelined for around seven months.

After serving his time, Shafiq only returned to race riding last week when he managed to pick up two thirds from only four rides.

Booked for only two rides by Walker on Friday night, the Kelantan-born rider had one bullet left after finishing third aboard Riedel in Race 3 but looked like he would have to wait for another day for the milestone win after Secret Spice, who was first-up from a four-month break, looked a forlorn hope when still last in the $65,000 Initiation race (1200m) upon cornering.

But Shafiq conjured up a brilliant piece of riding that provided a timely reminder of his talent as Secret Spice ($50) flew home to blouse out debutant Winning Clause (Nooresh Juglall) by a short head. Remember Me (Michael Rodd) ran third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 13.28secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.

“I was very disappointed when I was on 99 wins and then I got time, as I had to wait for six months for that 100th win,” said the former Singapore champion apprentice jockey (2011).

“But what matters I got that out of the way now. I didn't expect to win on this filly, though, as she was coming back to the races after four months.  It was a 1200m race and she is more of a miler. She was three wide but I was not worried as she had cover and I know she can stay and the ones who were in front would come back to me in the home straight.”

While the win gave Shafiq his first visit back to the winner's enclosure since Gato Negro on August 8, 2014, such was not the case for Walker, who continues his rampage up the trainer's ladder. The Kiwi handler is already at his 24th win, putting him eight wins clear of Leslie Khoo.