Fairway's Turf Online

Syafiq lands maiden win on Secret Liberty

SINGAPORE: Feb 8, 2015

Syafiq Hazman scores his maiden win on SECRET LIBERTY
- SNTC photo

When Syafiq Hazman gave up a career as a chef to join the racing world, he was riding into the unknown.

He did not know anything about of the sport but despite that he applied and was accepted as a trainee apprentice jockey with the Singapore Training Academy for Racing (STAR).

Four long years of learning the robes and a fruitless first season in 2014 finally brought its reward when he booted home his first winner astride SECRET LIBERTY in the Kranji Stakes D, Div 1 - 1200m sprint at Kranj here today.

Syafiq took the Australian four-year-old to the front on settling down and the pair never looked back, winning by two lengths for the mare's first win in six starts in Singapore.

SECRET LIBERTY raced thrice in Australia for a win at Pakenham and two placings before coming to Singapore.

"It’s a great feeling. I’ve left my job as a chef not knowing if I would make it as a jockey, but I’m glad I did," said 27-year-old Syafiq who trained under Leslie Khoo before switching to Michael Freedman two months ago.

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

1	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1200M
4	DYLAN	L Laxon	M Nunes	1
	(3 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Battocchi by Success Express)
2	Power Lin	B Dean	R Zawari	2
7	Harden Up	D Koh	TH Koh	3
4	California Sun	M Yusof	MM Firdaus	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2	NO SMOKING JEFF	M Yusof	A Munro	1
	(3 b.a.g Red Dazzler - Market Price by Scenic)
1	Dragon Fury	HW Tan	T See	2
6	Mr Dreyfuss	L Laxon	M Rodd	3
4	Caro Ina	P Shaw	N Juglall	4

3	BENCHMARK 67 - 1600M
2	OM	M Walker	M Nunes	1
	(5 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Songfest by Unbridled's Song)
9	High Troja	H Takaoka	D Flores	2
6	Felarof	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	3
5	Meshmaker	C Brown	C Newitt	4

4	INITIATION - 1200M
6	EXCELLENT MAGIC	H Takaoka	A Munro	1
	(3 ch.a.c Magic Albert - Chelsea Rose by Hennessy)
9	Rio Je Janeiro	S Gray	R Rueven	2
1	En Lauder	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	3
8	Ninetysevenemperor	M Freedman	C Newitt	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	MAC VOLKS	Khoo	A Munro	1
	(4 b.nz.g Volksraad - Miz Monroe by Shinko King)
2	Wimbledon	M Freedman	CW Brown	2
1	Oriental Pearl	M Clements	M Nunes	3
9	Mastermind	D Koh	Woodworth	4

6	MAIDEN - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
5	OCTIVIA	L Laxon	CW Brown	1
	(4 b/br.nz.m Falkirk - Tracy by Casual Lies)
4	Nice Hat Trick	S Chua	TH Koh	2
3	Pure White	H Takaoka	A Munro	3
1	Keep Spinning	D Hill	Z Zuriman	4

7	KRANJI STAKES D - 1600M
1	BOB	L Laxon	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Huluava by Pins)
2	Invictus	S Burridge	CW Brown	2
3	Meaisin	B Dean	J Powell	3
12	General Conatus	S Yeoh	T See	4

8	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1200M
3	SECRET LIBERTY	M Freedman	H Syafiq	1
	(4 b.a.m Statue Of Liberty - Matriculate by Honor Grades)
4	Zac Command	M Walker	M Nunes	2
5	Good Loouken	L Dragon	N Juglall	3
2	Tim	L Laxon	R Rueven	4

9	OPEN STAKES - 1600M
7	THUMPING	H Takaoka	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 b/br.am.m Any Given Saturday - Weekend Sky by Fuji Kiseki)
1	Flax	D Hill	B Vorster	2
2	Trudeau	B Marsh	M Rodd	3
5	Martin	L Laxon	C Newitt	3
	*Dead-heat for 3rd

10	KRANJI STAKES C - 1400M
7	ASPEN	M Walker	M Nunes	1
	(4 b.nz.g Alamosa - Kirin Belle by McGinty)
1	Good News	HW Tan	Chavez	2
9	Clutha Lad	M Walker	C Newitt	3
11	Lika Tiger	S Burridge	J Powell	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1400M
9	INTENSE GOLD	C Brown	B Vorster	1
	(4 br.ir.g Intense Focus - Rose Of Mooncoin by Brief Truce)
2	Squire Osbaldeston	S Gray	CW Brown	2
8	Just Name It	C Brown	C Newitt	3
4	Bordeaux	L Laxon	R Rueven	4