Fairway's Turf Online

SINGAPORE: Nov 17, 2018

BUURAQ collars RISE OF EMPIRE close home to give Joseph Azzopardi
a winning farewell - SNTC photo

Perth jockey Joseph Azzopardi bowed out of Singapore racing on a winning note, scoring a narrow win on BUURAQ in the Restricted Maiden event over 1200m at Kranji here today.

The Singapore racing has two weeks left to run but Azzopardi leaves after today's meeting in order not to miss the start of the Perth racing carnival.

BUURAQ was given a let-up after finishing down the field in his debut last July and transferred to trainer Michael Clements.

The Sweet Orange gelding was travelling with the pace but had to wait for an opening at the top of the straight. When that came, the pacemaker RISE OF EMPIRE had kicked clear at the 200m.

But Azzopardi got to work on the three-year-old and BUURAQ slowly but surely closed the gap on the leader, getting up in the last couple of strides to win by a short head.

"I’ve had a great experience in Singapore, and it was great to ride my last winner for Michael Clements as he was the reason why I came up here in the first place," said Azzopardi who was having his first season in Singapore.

"As for BUURAQ, he was a bit green. When I pulled him out, he took a while to get going, but he did a good job in the end."

Azzopardi rode 16 winners for the season.

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

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	FLAUNT	L Dragon	CC Wong	1
	(4 ch.arg.g Pure Prize - Forty Emisaria by Roar)
10	I Am Invisible	KY Young	M Rodd	2
7	Super Emperor	HW Tan	J See	3
1	Asia Spirit	D Koh	T Rehaizat	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
3	BUURAQ	M Clements	J Azzopardi	1
	(3 b.nz.g Sweet Orange - Miss Annaliese by Don Eduardo)
1	Rise Of Empire	S Baertschiger	V Duric	2
2	Fast And Fearless	J Peters	B Thompson	3
9	Lim's Unique	D Meagher	Woodworth	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)
4	GOLAZO	H Takaoka	L Beuzelin	1
	(6 ch.j.g Screen Hero - Fuji Blue Heart by Chief Bearhart)
3	Mighty Emperor	R Le Grange	V Duric	2
1	Dazzle Gold	S Burridge	M Rodd	3
7	Smiling Proud	J Saimee	D Moor	4

4	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1400M
1	WHISTLE GRAND	Khoo	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.nz.g Coats Choice - Ashberg by Bigstone)
5	Clergyman	S Gray	J Azzopardi	2
7	Valencia	S Gray	V Duric	3
10	Aliceinwonderland	M Walker	J van der Merwe	4

5	CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
7	SUN PITTSBURGH	H Takaoka	CC Wong	1
	(5 b.j.m Storming Home - Toshi The Mika by Polish Navy)
1	Carnelian	H Takaoka	S Noh	2
3	Lucky Tiger	J Ong	M Nizar	3
8	Lucky Red	CT Kuah	I Amirul	4

6	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	MISS MICHELLE	O'Hara	J van der Merwe	1
	(4 b.e.m Equiano - Enrol by Pivotal)
1	Turf Beauty	J Tan	CS Chin	2
6	Gangnam Classic	J Saimee	M Nizar	3
4	Alaranch	CT Kuah	V Duric	4

7	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
6	HOWL	D Meagher	Woodworth	1
	(6 br.nz.g Showcasing - Trouville by Hurricane Sky)
9	Romantic	S Burridge	I Amirul	2
8	Flying Tourbillon	C Brown	B Thompson	3
1	Barbeque	M Walker	A Collett	4

8	CLASS 5 - 1400M
7	MR ROCKWELL	DL Freedman	J Powell	1
	(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - Pretty Proud by Mr Greeley)
5	Spur Me On	KS Tan	I Amirul	2
4	Tuscan Artist	D Meagher	T Rehaizat	3
6	Pegasus Junior	KY Young	M Rodd	4

9	CLASS 3 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
2	RIVER RADIANCE	ZL Mok	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.nz.g Rip Van Winkle - Options by Casual Lies)
5	Ararat Lady	C Brown	B Thompson	2
4	Autumn Assault	S Burridge	Woodworth	3
7	Lim's Knight	D Meagher	CS Chin	4

10	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
5	PAX ANIMI	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.a.g Rebel Raider - Geology by Fastnet Rock)
10	Eastiger	DL Freedman	A Collett	2
11	Kimitonara	S Burridge	Woodworth	3
8	Copacabana	C Brown	B Thompson	4