Fairway's Turf Online

Haikal applies Final Touch in maiden win

KUALA LUMPUR: Nov 20, 2022

Hakali Hanif scoring his maiden win on Final Touch - SLTC photo

The number 13 may be unlucky for some but not apprentice Muhammad Haikal Hanif.

Allowed to carry a whip for the first time, seized the opportunity to steer FINAL TOUCH home to register his first career win in the Class 3 - 1100m handicap at Sungei Besi here today.

It was the 13th ride for Haikal who becomes the latest to graduate from riding ponies in his native Kelantan to winning races in the capital.

Placed twice on FINAL TOUCH last month when he could only ride hands and heels, the first-season apprentice made it count this time.

Haikal had FINAL TOUCH settled just behind the pace like the two runs before. But this time, he was able to pull the whip on the eight-year-old who produced the best finish among a line of four horses vying for the lead at 200m.

FINAL TOUCH won by 1 3/4 lengths and has been very consistent with one win and three placings in as many starts since coming from Singapore.

The son Of Perfectly Ready scored three times in 23 starts at Kranji. He had raced in good company at three and four in New Zealand for two wins at Avondale and Te Aroha.

"I am happy to make this breakthrough," said Haikal.

"My instructions were to lead if possible or else sit behind the pace. When I used the whip on him, he responded very well and that's when I knew he was going to win today.

"I would like to thank everybody who has helped me to where I am today.

Haikal was brought up with ponies in his backyard. He started riding at the age of eight and by 14, was competing in races on the beach in Kelantan.

After meeting A'Isisuhairi Kassim, a top apprentice in Singapore who also hails from Kelantan, he was determined to become a professional jockey.

Upon graduating from secondary school, Haikal spent a year riding ponies in Kelantan before he was introduced by a friend to work at the Penang Turf Club with trainer Lim Hoon Seng.

When Cheng Han Yong set up his stables at the Selangor Turf Club, Haikal moved to Kuala Lumpur to join the trainer. He was enrolled in the apprentice school a year ago.

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

1	SPORTS TOTO 6D STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1400M
10	WHITE RABBIT	C Leck	K Pavinthran	1
	(4 b/br.nz.h Alamosa - Lady Cha Cha by Savabeel)
9	Trinity Revival	SY Lim	A Suriya	2
6	Beautiful One	L Moy	I Fikri	3
7	Kyo	R Lines	S Ruzaini	4

2	SPORTS TOTO 5D STAKES
2	CLASS 5 - 1400M
5	THE ICEMAN	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(7 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Danse Sauvage by Montjeu)
2	Chief Clerk	I Ismadi	KC Tham	2
1	Aspen	S Shanmugam	R Rueven	3
8	Calvados	P Lee	J Low	3
	*Deadheat for 3rd

3	SPORTS TOTO 4D STAKES
3	CLASS 5 - 1400M
7	WANTED PAYOUT	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(4 b.nz.g Proisir - Zelt by Red Ransom)
3	Sacred Galaxy	P Lee	R Rueven	2
1	Leopard Eclipse	F Maynard	A Suriya	3
4	Miss Michelle	CC Ooi	KC Tham	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1400M
4	NAJWAN	AB Abdullah	M Ewe	1
	(5 br.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Mabsam by Stratum)
3	Topnotch	AB Abdullah	S Uzair	2
6	El Macho	HY Cheng	MM Firdaus	3
2	Obsidian	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

5	SPORTS TOTO 4D ZODIAC STAKES
5	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
2	XAR	AB Abdullah	S Uzair	1
	(4 b.nz.g American Pharoah - Posavina by Tiger Hill)
1	Top Gun	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
7	Magic Sixty-One	SY Lim	KC Tham	3
3	Mysterious Captain	R Lines	R Nuqman	4

6	SUPREME TOTO 6/58 STAKES
6	CLASS 3 - 1100M
3	FINAL TOUCH	HY Cheng	H Haikal	1
	(8 br.nz.g Perfectly Ready - Catalma by Old Deuteronomy)
1	Kruger	S Shanmugam	KC Tham	2
10	Vulcan	C Leck	Clyde Leck	3
6	Estijaab	AB Abdullah	MM Firdaus	4

7	SPORTS TOTO SUPREME CHALLENGE CUP
7	OPEN (SW) - 1400M
4	WHITE HOOF BIRD	SY Lim	R Nuqman	1
	(6 b/br.a.g Denman - Can She Move by Canny Lad)
5	Skydance Eclipse	F Maynard	R Rueven	2
12	War Dragon	L Moy	S Uzair	3
3	Gingerella	MW Teh	I Fikri	4

8	POWER TOTO 6/55 STAKES
8	CLASS 4 - 1300M
8	ACROBAT	R Lines	WK Lee	1
	(7 ch.nz.g Pins - Turf Fire by O'Reilly)
1	Fa Fa Star	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
5	Hairy Fist	SY Lim	R Nuqman	3
7	RS Diago	M Sukri	Y Aify	4

9	SPORTS TOTO 4D JACKPOT STAKES
9	CLASS 4 - 1300M
7	BLEU MARINE	HY Cheng	S Uzair	1
	(6 b.ir.g Dark Angel - Blue Picture by Peintre Celebre)
1	Shoqeet	AB Abdullah	M Ewe	2
2	Super Happy	KC Tiang	J Low	2
8	Cosmic Sands	S Hamilton	S Salee	4
	*Deadheat for 2nd

10	STAR TOTO 6/50 STAKES
10	CLASS 4 - 1300M
1	KANTHAKA	HY Cheng	HK Cheng	1
	(5 b.nz.g Showcasing - Rockelle by Rock Of Gibraltar)
4	Life In Sixty-One	SY Lim	R Rueven	2
2	Dragon Ryker	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	3
3	Asaad	AB Abdullah	S Uzair	4

11	CLASS 5 - 2000M
6	VALUE OF JUSTICE	WC Lim	SU Lim	1
	(10 b.a.g Daliapour - Amatilla by Redoute's Choice)
3	Success Street	S Cook	S Ruzaini	2
7	Silver Joy	HY Cheng	R Nuqman	3
2	Smart Investment	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4