KOK HAS HIS RED-LETTER DAY

After lean spell and four-month working holiday, top jockey finally salutes again

A lucky pick-up ride on $142 outsider Red Maned snapped one of the longest dry spells leading local jockey Simon Kok had to endure in his six-year career.

The former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey had gone nine months without winning a race - an eternity in any sport. He last greeted the judge aboard Hasten for Steven Burridge on Aug 20, 2023.

In saying this, Kok did spend four months overseas - December to March, for both business and pleasure. He tied the knot with French girlfriend Lola in France, and stayed on to ride out for trainer Jerome Reynier. He even took two race rides for the leading handler in Nimes, finishing third on both occasions.

The Malaysian rider only returned to Singapore in April, booked mostly on the Falcon Racing Stable horses, but the winning post still proved elusive.

In three meetings (he missed one through a careless riding suspension incurred atop October) and 17 rides, Kok had only one second place to show for (astride July on May 4).

With no standout in his book of six rides on May 25, he was starting to wonder if he would soon need a map to find his way back to the winner's enclosure.