Fairway's Turf Online

MM Firdaus lands first win in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Aug 31, 2014

Mohd Firdaus Mansor scoring his maiden Singapore win on
EMPEROR'S BANQUET - SNTC photo

Malaysian apprentice Mohd Firdaus Mansor, who made the switch to Singapore to further his career about a month ago, landed his first winner at Kranji when he piloted EMPEROR'S BANQUET to victory in the Benchmark 89 - 1600m handicap today.

The former Malcolm Thwaites apprentice rode 19 winners to finish second to Rueven Ravindra (26 wins) in Malaysia last year and was challenging for the title (13 winners to Tham Kin Chong's 14) when he decided on the move on his urging of master.

Firdaus began his Singapore campaign with a third placing on GOLD LINE on Aug 22 and EMPEROR'S BANQUET was his fifth ride at Kranji.

EMPEROR'S BANQUET was the third in line in the betting amongst his new master Patrick Shaw's three runners in the six-horse field. But it was the Australian gelding who defeated his two more fancied stable-mates to the line in a closely-fought finish.

"I am happy to ride my first winner", said a modest Firdaus after the win.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1400M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
3	FLUTZ	S Gray	CW Brown	1
	(5 b.a.g Dubawi - Port High by Spectrum)
8	Sparkling Star	HW Tan	J See	2
2	Leadership	D Hill	LQ Kek	3
7	Lord Grantham	S Gray	J Moreira	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
5	GOLDEN TOMAHAWK	S Baertschiger	Kellady	1
	(3 ch.a.c Turffontein - Night Sky Dancer by Danehill Dancer)
2	Racer King	T Kieser	Soo	2
7	Big City	M Freedman	N Juglall	3
6	Toobigtofail	C Brown	T O'Shea	4

3	BENCHMARK 89 - 1600M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
1	EMPEROR'S BANQUET	P Shaw	MM Firdaus	1
	(5 b.a.g Holy Roman Emperor - Invisible Quest by Intikhab)
2	Magneto	P Shaw	N Juglall	2
5	Quechua	P Shaw	J Moreira	3
4	One Smart Cat	S Baertschiger	Kellady	4

4	INITIATION, DIV 2 - 1200M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
10	DYLAN	L Laxon	J Moreira	1
	(3 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Battocchi by Success Express)
1	Science Fiction	B Dean	Aslam	2
8	Trinity	P Shaw	N Juglall	3
4	Become Rich	HW Tan	Zaki	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
8	MASTER DRAGON	S Yeoh	Zaki	1
	(4 b.a.g Hidden Dragon - Pacific Quest by Kreisler)
4	Double Cash	S Lam	TR Barnabas	2
3	Caiyaya	L Dragon	A Munro	3
9	Gilt Lad	S Burridge	CW Brown	4

6	INITIATION, DIV 1 - 1200M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
8	A LA VICTORY	M Freedman	J Moreira	1
	(3 b.nz.g Alamosa - Everswindell by Align)
3	Excuse Me	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	2
6	Tomorrow's Gold	S Burridge	L Allpress	3
1	Bob	L Laxon	A Munro	4

7	BENCHMARK 74 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
1	CHEETAH ON FIRE	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	1
	(6 b.nz.g One Cool Cat - Kindness by Star Way)
4	Accomplished	S Chua	S John	2
5	Boomarang Deluxe	S Burridge	CW Brown	3
7	Dark Pulse	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	4

9	MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1400M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
5	SUPER SIX	S Chua	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(4 b.a.g Kaphero - Ellexcell by Octagonal)
8	Regal Salute	M Walker	L Allpress	2
2	Top Of The Town	M Walker	CW Brown	3
10	Gravlax	S Lam	TK Barnabas	4

10	CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
1	ALASAMO	M Freedman	S Noh	1
	(4 b.nz.g Alamosa - Mumbai by Lord Ballina)
5	Weowna Flyer	M Clements	J Moreira	2
9	Silent Power	L Dragon	A Munro	3
10	Royal Brat	D Hill	Z Zuriman	4

11	BENCHMARK 67 - 1200M
No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Pos
9	THESE STREETS	C Brown	J Moreira	1
	(5 b.nz.g Elusive City - Conquering Beauty by I Conquer)
7	Ruapehu	L Laxon	J Powell	2
5	Straightothepoint	L Laxon	CW Brown	3
2	Warpath	S Baertschiger	Kellady	4