Fairway's Turf Online

Azhar starts new year with group win

SINGAPORE: Jan 1, 2017

GURU-GURU (Azhar Ismail) winning the New Year Cup - SNTC photo

For so long the dominant name amongst the jockeys in Malaysia, Azhar Ismail's transition to be based in Singapore in 2015 has not been easy.

Azhar failed to win a race in 2015 and only got his long overdue first win as a Singapore based jockey in February last year when successful on GURU-GURU. He went on to land just three more winners last year.

The new season, though, has started well for the six-time champion Malaysian jockey. And it was again GURU-GURU who gave Azhar the much needed fillip.

Azhar and GURU-GURU just missed out on a big race win when beaten a short head by BAHANA in the Group 3 El Dorado Classic last October.

Two starts later, the pair were to emerge triumphant in the Group 3 New Year Cup over 1900m at Kranji here today, the opening day of the 2017 season.

GURU-GURU won by half a length from BIG BROTHER to record his fourth win in 21 starts.

"This horse has been fantastic to me and the race worked out well for us. Credit to Desmond for maintaining his form during the break," said Azhar.

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

1	WELCOME 2017 STAKES
1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
3	SPECIAL FORCE	S Yeoh	MM Firdaus	1
	(4 b.nz.g Falkirk - Asset by Golan)
1	Marea Negro	H Takaoka	D David	2
9	Q Nine Maxim	M Walker	CK Ng	3
7	Dominy	O'Hara	H Syafiq	4

2	GOOD HEALTH 2017 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
6	MAJOR ADVANCEMENT	D Kok	G Boss	1
	(3 br.nz.g O'Reilly - Barbara Ann by Elusive City)
4	King Kong	S Burridge	M Rodd	2
8	Super Dan	D Meagher	G Mosse	3
7	Major Tom	M Walker	Chavez	4

3	HAPPINESS 2017 STAKES
3	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
5	SHADOW OF WAR	HW Tan	O Placais	1
	(3 ch.a.g Sebring - Regal Chamber by Archregent)
10	Halo Bright	T Kieser	CC Wong	2
2	Hello Michelle	M Walker	R Zawari	3
1	Eatons Gold	M Walker	CK Ng	4

4	WONG CHIN CHUEN STAKES
4	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	SOON YI	HW Tan	A Munro	1
	(7 b/br.am.g Sightseeing - Colegiada by Southern Halo )
11	One O Nine	HK Tan	TH Koh	2
6	Golden Mile	C Brown	M Rodd	3
1	Alan	L Laxon	G Boss	4

5	CELEBRATIONS 2017 STAKES
5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
2	RACING TALENT	D Kok	G Boss	1
	(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - Most Striking by Giant's Causeway)
13	Roan Ranger	S Yeoh	D David	2
12	Aladdin	D Hill	Sam	3
3	Voyager	S Yeoh	S John	4

6	MANOEL NUNES STAKES
6	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
2	D'BUFFALO MAN	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.nz.g Buffalo Man - Silk Purse by Defensive Play)
6	Siamese Cat	R Le Grange	MM Firdaus	2
10	O'What A Feeling	S Baertschiger	Kellady	3
11	Zeus Warrior	T Kieser	A Munro	4

7	PEACE & JOY 2017 STAKES
7	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	HIGHLIGHT	D Hill	Sam	1
	()
2	Across The Sea	H Takaoka	D David	2
1	Good Bet	ZL Mok	Chavez	3
3	Beat To Quarters	D Hill	CC Wong	4

8	ALWIN TAN HAI WANG STAKES
8	KRANJI STAKES A - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2	MY LUCKY STRIKE	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(5 br.a.g Charge Forward - Hanna Rossa by Testa Rossa)
1	Super Winner	T Kieser	Y Salim	2
5	The General	R Le Grange	N Juglall	3
4	Sebas	T Kieser	G Mosse	4

9	NEW YEAR CUP
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
12	GURU-GURU	D Koh	Azhar	1
	(4 b.nz.g Faltaat - New Height by Fuji Kiseki)
9	Big Brother	R Le Grange	B Vorster	2
8	Castor	O'Hara	Saifudin	3
2	Perfect P	R Le Grange	N Juglall	4

10	LIM'S STABLE STAKES
10	CLASS 3 - 1400M
4	JUPITER GOLD	H Takaoka	A Munro	1
	(3 br.a.rig Congrats - Contented by More Than Ready)
10	B'Nevagivup	S Gray	Azhar	2
8	Groenewegen	C Brown	G Boss	3
2	Toliman	C Brown	M Rodd	4

11	PROSPERITY 2017 STAKES
11	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
2	PREDITOR	S Baertschiger	J Powell	1
	(4 b.nz.h Savabeel - Bird by Danasinga)
6	Lim's Elusive	S Burridge	V Duric	2
14	Queen's Seven	H Takaoka	D David	3
1	Mangatoetoenui	L Laxon	M Rodd	4