KRISNA THANKFUL FOR BEST BOOK EVER

M'sian jockey lapping up chance of first Gl win on Bestseller for old master Le Grange

- Michael Lee

Krisna Thangamani ranks among the most-improved local jockeys at Kranji, yet he is still not the first name that springs to mind when making a Group 1 booking.

Unless it is a handicap feature like the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2,000m) or Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1,400m).

As a natural lightweight, the Penang-born jockey has had a few shots at those, even during his apprentice days, but could not do miracles on no-hopers.

At the last Singapore Gold Cup on Nov 11, he actually did okay on Big Hearted, making ground for ninth, only around four lengths off the winner Lim's Kosciuszko.

Group 1 majors at level weights would, however, be off limits.

The more fashionable expats like Manoel Nunes, Bernardo Pinheiro, Marc Lerner or the Vlad Duric and Michael Rodd of yesteryear would always get the best seats.

Save for a select few, the locals would either pick up leftovers, or watch the race from their locker room.

Krisna was at his Johor Bahru home playing with his two-yearold son around two weeks ago when he got a call out of the blue It was the familiar voice of his former master Ricardo Le Grange at the other end.