Rampant! Vorster celebrates a win on Jamal Malik in the Stewards’ Cup
One of the SA Jockey Academy’s prized students Barend Vorster reached another personal landmark in a glittering career when he rode his 600th winner at Kranji on Friday night. In a week that saw the shock retirement of colleague Felix Coetzee, this news will come as a tonic for SA racing fans.
The popular South African has been firmly entrenched in the Kranji riding ranks since he tested the waters at a short stay in 2003 before coming back for full seasons year after year, clinching the Singapore premiership title in 2004 and winning the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint aboard Ato in 2012 as the pinnacle of his career.
Riding mainly for Ato’s trainer, fellow South African Patrick Shaw, the lightweight rider spreads himself around too, especially when nobody else can make the low weights.
Also renowned for his vigour in the saddle, it is not surprising he often commands large books of rides which have now culminated into his milestone win aboard the Michael Freedman-trained Mr Armstrong in the $75,000 Class 3 race over 1600m.
In his trademark never-say-die pumping style, Vorster was pulling out all the stops on the $44 shot as the well-backed Sweet Lodge (Manoel Nunes) came charging home on the outside, but Mr Armstrong had saved enough petrol in the tank to outlast the gallant mare by a neck.
Another Trophy. Barend in a a familiar pose
Don Platense (Vagner Leal) who was resuming from a four-month break after a bleeding attack, took up the running and did well to hold on for third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 37.16secs.
“It’s no small feat to be able to ride 600 winners when you ride on just the one track,” said Vorster as he was presented with a bottle of champagne at the winner’s circle.
“I’m really loving this game. I still remember my first winner for Laurie (Laxon) when I came here in 2003 – Hackman. You keep riding winners every week, but those numbers all count.
“I’ve established myself in Singapore in the last few years now and hopefully I’ll be here long enough to hit 1,000 wins one day. That’s another mountain to climb, but I’ll give it a bash.
“I would like to thank my wife Nikki for her support all these years, and my granny who has been with me in the last six weeks but who is flying back to South Africa tomorrow.”
Vorster, who is now a Singapore Permanent Resident, is the third most winningest jockeys at Kranji after nine-time Singapore champion jockey Saimee Jumaat (776 wins) and four-time Singapore champion jockey Joao Moreira (723 wins).
Buddies. Barend (right) seen here with his friend and colleague Greg Cheyne at a golf day
Going through the race, Vorster said the pace was a bit slow, but Mr Armstrong showed plenty of heart in the last 300m to get the job done.
“They went a bit slow early. That took a bit from my horse as he probably would have preferred a more genuine pace,” he said.
“But he gave a very good kick in the home straight. The other horse was coming home well but got there.”
Freedman congratulated Vorster on his record, highlighting that their strike rate has been rather high even though they do not team up all that often.
“Barend’s a terrific rider who’s been here a long time. We’ve had a lot of luck on the rare occasions he rides for us,” said the Australian conditioner.
“This horse is on the improve. He’s a slow-maturing sort. Six to eight months ago, he wouldn’t have done what he did tonight.
“But he’s going quite well and has come back in good shape this prep. It was a test on his class and the track tonight, but he’s done well to win.”
Mr Armstrong is a four-year-old gelding by Dylan Thomas and has now recorded four wins in 14 outings for prizemoney in excess of $170,000 for the Raffles Racing Stable.
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