Fairway's Turf Online

Mahadi off the mark with Jungle King

SINGAPORE: Jul 2, 2022

JUNGLE KING springs an upset to give trainer Mahadi Taib his first win
- SNTC photo

Just a couple of weeks into the job, newly-licenced trainer Mahadi Taib was off the mark when JUNGLE KING returned after a lengthy spell to win the Class 5 - 1200m sprint on the polytrack at kranji here today.

The Makfi gelding has not raced since early last October when he bled and trailed the field home.

JUNGLE KING had a few trials in the past three months before he was transferred to Mahadi.

The five-year-old showed no effect of the long layoff to win by 1 1/4 lengths with Ronnie Stewart abroad. He paid $117.

It was the third win in 21 starts for JUNGLE KING who scored twice in 2020.

"I’m very, very happy to get my first winner at my second meeting," said Mahadi.

"JUNGLE KING trialled well the last two times with Ronnie, and he was supposed to run over 1100m last week, but he did not eat well after his second trial.

"I wasn’t very happy so I backed him off after that trial. He’s been doing very well since, so it’s not a surprise for me actually."

Mahadi started from scratch as a syce to ex-Bukit Timah trainer Buang Abu Bakar at the age of 17.

Since then he has worked under various trainers including Keith Daniel, the late Douglas Dragon, and more recently Michael Clements, before obtaining his assistant-trainer licence in 2009.

"I joined Young Keah Yong for a year after working for Theo Kieser for eight years, that’s when I started to think about becoming a trainer myself," said Mahadi who has nine children and two grandsons.

"KY encouraged me, but I thought I still needed to learn more, so I tried to build my connection with owners from there. I count myself lucky to be able to find some supporters."

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

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
4	SUMMER WIND	S Baertschiger	J Bayliss	1
	(5 b/br.a.g Hidden Dragon - Cenotime by Gilded Time)
1	Malibu Beach	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	2
2	Russian Twist	J Peters	V Duric	3
6	Super Generous	L Khoo	TH Koh	4

2	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	GOLD CUT	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(4 ch.a.g Reward For Effort - Open Cut by Made Of Gold)
1	Shanghai Star	S Baertschiger	S Shafrizal	2
7	Rocky	D Logan	F Yusoff	3
3	Fabu	J Ong	TH Koh	4

3	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
2	ENDLESS	J Peters	CC Wong	1
	(8 b.am.g War Front - River Belle by Lahib)
6	Angel Halo	H Takaoka	I Saifudin	2
8	Maximilian	KY Young	TH Koh	3
1	Bebop	H Takaoka	B Pinheiro	4

4	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
3	SPEEDY MISSILE	D Logan	F Yusoff	1
	(5 b.a.g Smart Missile - Telegraph Gal by Royal Academy)
2	Fortune Changer	R Lim	R Stewart	2
5	Eight Ball	S Baertschiger	CC Wong	3
4	Unconquered	L Khoo	TH Koh	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
4	STAR JACK	H Takaoka	M Akmazani	1
	(8 b.j.g Jungle Pocket - Madrigal Score by Dance In The Dark)
7	Free Fallin'	S Baertschiger	K Hakim	2
1	On Line	M Clements	V Duric	3
2	King Louis	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	4

6	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
6	AUSPICIOUS DAY	L Khoo	PH Seow	1
	(7 b.nz.g Showcasing - Sweet Charity by Zabeel)
1	See Yah	J Ong	TH Koh	2
7	Big Day	J Tan	M Akmazani	3
12	Qiji Star	D Logan	S Jamil	4

7	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
4	CENTURION	KS Tan	CC Wong	1
	(7 b.nz.g Zed - Taupaki Flight by British Banker)
7	Bright Era	T Mahadi	M Zaki	2
5	God's Gift	D Logan	F Yusoff	3
3	Super Atas	T Fitzsimmons	J Bayliss	4

8	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
2	FROM THE NAVY	S Baertschiger	M Zaki	1
	(5 b.a.g Hinchinbrook - Wildly Entertained by Forestry)
7	Montana Flash	D Logan	K Hakim	2
1	Webster	D Meagher	R Fahim	3
8	Absolvido	S Burridge	CC Wong	4

9	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	JUNGLE KING	T Mahadi	R Stewart	1
	(5 b.nz.g Makfi - Shamabelle by Shamardal)
13	Rich Fortune	S Crutchley	PH Seow	2
6	Fountain Of Fame	J Peters	J Bayliss	3
3	Wild Bee	KY Young	R Woodworth	4

10	KRANJI STAKES B (SW) - 1400M
3	PROSPEROUS NATION	M Clements	R Stewart	1
	(4 blk/ar.a.g Fighting Sun - Rose Syrah by Testa Rossa)
4	Spirit Of Big Bang	M Clements	V Duric	2
8	Quarter Back	M Clements	B Pinheiro	3
12	Karisto	M Clements	M Ibrahim	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
7	ROCKETSHIP	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	1
	(4 b.am.m Inton Mischief - Dulce Periculum by El Corredor)
11	Yes One Ball	R Le Grange	T Krisna	2
8	Greatham Girl	M Clements	L Beuzelin	3
2	Lim's Knight	D Meagher	D Beasley	4