Fairway's Turf Online

Espindola on the Rise with double

PENANG: Mar 4, 2023

Rides may have been aplenty for Victor Espindola since he made his Malaysia bow in late January, but the Brazilian jockey can boost of an impressive strike rate.

Prior to this afternoon's races, Espindola had a winning rate of 25 percent, having won five races in 20 rides. He was also placed six times, meaning he finished "in the money" in more than half his appearances.

Espindola's strike rate just went up a notch after he booted home two winners and was placed his only other ride here today.

After finishing third on REBORN GENERAL, he went on to score an easy win in GOLDEN SARDINE in a Class 4 - 1300m handicap.

The Iffraaj gelding landed in March last year having win once in six runs in his native New Zealand and has been knocking on the door in his first three outings, finishing third to OUD WOOD over 1200m last January.

GOLDEN REBORN was to turn the tables on OUD WOOD today, racing past the latter with ease 200m out to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Espindola wrapped up the day with RISE OF THE LEGEND who returned to the winner's circle after more than a year to bag the Class 5 - 1600m handicap.

Unplaced in two runs in Singapore, the New Zealand gelding has won just twice in 19 runs in the country.

With the double, Espindola moved up to sixth in the table with seven winners.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1200M
8	BIG POWER	CW Robert	SS Vanan	1
	(5 b.a.g Niconoise - Shalimar Dreaming by Never Undercharge)
5	D'Great Empress	K Ananthen	Z Syafifie	2
4	You Are Special	E Breukelen	M Ewe	3
9	Leedstheway	T Asogan	R Nuqman	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1200M
10	YOU ARE GENIUS	K Coetzee	M Ewe	1
	(11 b.a.g Dane Shadow - Aunty Betty by Encounter)
3	Purple Rain	KF Wong	WW Cheah	2
6	Chips	K Ananthen	Z Syafifie	3
8	Asian Jet	S Shanmugam	S Salee	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1200M
3	PIT BULL	K Ananthen	KC Tham	1
	(6 ch.a.g Deep Field - Walk Alone by Honour And Glory)
1	Qiji Love	B Ng	R Ruwaidy	2
4	TK Star	T Asogan	Z Khairil	3
9	Loyalty's Angel	S Shanmugam	S Saddam	4

4	BANDED 62-89 (SW) - 1200M
3	BIG DOCTOR	T Asogan	R Nuqman	1
	(6 b/br.a.g Better Than Ready - Royalsyn by Royal Academy)
1	Xena	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	2
4	China Captain	CW Robert	KP Lim	3
7	Vietnam Special	K Coetzee	R Ruwaidy	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1300M
5	BALL AND CHAIN	S Shanmugam	S Saddam	1
	(8 ch.arg.g Perfectperformance - Balla Twine by Twining)
4	Mysterious Captain	R Lines	KP Lim	2
11	Reborn General	HY Cheng	V Espindola	3
8	Matilda	K Ananthen	Z Syafifie	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1300M
5	GOLDEN SARDINE	HY Cheng	V Espindola	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Iffraaj - La Panthere by Generous)
6	Oud Wood	K Ananthen	N Shahronnizam	2
1	Gold Sky Billion	K Ahanthen	Z Syafifie	3
10	Magic City	T Asogan	Z Khairil	4

7	CLASS 5 - 1600M
7	RISE OF THE LEGEND	HY Cheng	V Espindola	1
	(5 b.nz.g Sacred Falls - Salford Art by Sir Percy)
6	Gurney Drive	K Ananthen	KP Lim	2
13	Davinci	T Asogan	S Sia	3
4	Sunny Fighter	CW Robert	M Ewe	4