CURATOLO HAS BRONZE IN SIGHT

French rider all fired up in three-way battle for third place in the jockeys’ championship

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With only seven more meetings to go in the last season of racing in Singapore, the race for jockeys' honours will go to the wire.

As it stands, Brazilian Bruno Queiroz leads the jockeys' log on 51 wins, two more than compatriot Manoel Nunes, and it seems a fight between the pair for the last title of champion jockey in Singapore.

But the bronze race is equally tight, with Frenchmen Ryan Curatolo and Marc Lerner on 35 wins apiece, and the rampaging Brazilian Bernardo Pinheiro just four behind.

It is anyone's guess who will be on the podium come the season finale on Oct 5, but Curatolo looks well placed to state his case on Aug 25 with eight strong rides.

Most notably, his three rides for trainer Tim Fitzsimmons look like serious winning chances. They include Shalaa four-year-old Fire in the $75,000 Novice race over 1,400m on turf (Race 6), on whom Curatolo is keen to keep his winning momentum going.

"My recent strike rate has been good, and I want to keep it that way," said Curatolo, whose wife Dayle is a Singaporean.

"Finishing third (on the jockeys' premiership) would be nice.

"It keeps me motivated as we come to the end (of racing in Singapore).

"Tim is my biggest supporter, and I think he has found the right race for Fire. The 1,400m is perfect for him.