Fairway's Turf Online

A winner to Cherish for De Souza in comeback

IPOH: Jun 24, 2023

Rueven Ravindra might have ridden three winners in today's card of six races, but the one who will most cherish the day is jockey Laercio De Souza.

The Brazilian was dislodged from COSMIC SANDS in a race at Sungei Besi on May 7 and suffered fracture to three ribs.

Today marked his comeback to the saddle since that unfortunate incident.

After finishing fourth on SUNNY FIGHTER in the third race, De Souza then rode a well-judged race to score on CHERISH in a Class 5 - 1200m handicap.

De Souza settled the eight-year-old in midfield before switching out at the home. Just as he was going for a run in between two horses, the gap closed and De Souza had to switch inwards.

His chance came again passing the 200m and CHERISH charged through and drew away in the run home to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

It was the 10th win in 72 starts by the son of Lucky Unicorn since making his debut in 2017. De Souza had ridden the gelding to victory once before last July.

Rueven, meanwhile, was successful on TRINITY HONOR, ARIF and SECKILL.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1600M
3	PURPLE RAIN LADY	KF Wong	SN Shiva	1
	(8 b.a.m Bullet Train - Theregoessnowball by Commands)
5	Davinci	T Asogan	HS Gill	2
6	Luck Happy	K Coetzee	R Rueven	3
1	Raise Me Up	B Ng	SU Lim	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1600M
6	TRINITY HONOR	E Breukelen	R Rueven	1
	(9 br.nz.g Rip Van Winkle - Bittersweet by Grosvenor)
5	Second Chance	K Coetzee	S Saddam	2
2	Iron Fist	K Ananthen	Z Syafifie	3
3	Napoleon	KF Wong	A Azizi	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1200M
3	ARIF	S Hamilton	R Rueven	1
	(11 b.ir.g Nayef - Adjaliya by Sinndar)
2	Supreme Justice	P Lee	SU Lim	2
4	Lisboa Star	R Lines	A Azizi	3
7	Sunny Fighter	CW Robert	L De Souza	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1200M
1	CHERISH	S Shanmugam	L De Souza	1
	(8 br.a.g Lucky Unicorn - Turn To Music by Sir Tristram)
2	Northern Knight	MP Thwaites	A Azizi	2
6	Hello Monday	K Coetzee	SN Shiva	3
7	Chips	K Ananthen	Z Syafifie	4

5	CLASS 5 - 1100M
4	SECKILL	T Asogan	R Rueven	1
	(8 ch.a.g More Than Ready - Skating On Ice by Bradbury's Luck)
1	King Ravana	E Breukelen	S Saddam	2
3	Iron Samurai	CW Robert	A Azizi	3
2	Always D'Great	E Breukelen	Z Syafifie	4

6	CLASS 5 - 1100M
2	TILSWORTH MALI	E Breukelen	S Anandan	1
	(9 b.e.m Hleleyf - Isabella d'Este by Irish River))
4	Luke Man	S Hamilton	SU Lim	2
6	Parisbas	CW Robert	S Saddam	3
3	Top Turf	S Shanmugam	L De Souza	4