Fairway's Turf Online

Winning debut for apprentice Seelan

KUALA LUMPUR: Jul 2, 2023

BLACK QUAIL (inside) and WHITE PEACH (No 2) battle to a deadheat
- SLTC photo

Newly-licensed Seelan Raj Mahendran joined an elite band of apprentices to win their very first ride when he piloted BLACK QUAIL to victory in a Class 4 - 1250m handicap at Sungei Besi here today.

For Seelan, 22, it did not matter that he had to share the win with last year's champion rider and apprentice Clyde Leck on WHITE PEACH.

Seelan tried to lead all the way on BLACK QUAIL but WHITE PEACH, who started favourite, got up in the last stride to snatch a deadheat.

BLACK QUAIL, winner of three races in Singapore, has now picked up five wins since coming under the care of Richard Lines who is Seelan's master.

WHITE PEACH has scored six times in 23 starts. The gelding landed unraced in Singapore but did not start racing until he was shipped to Charles Leck in Kuala Lumpur.

"It was a good day," said a very modest Seelan. "The actual racing is totally different from barrier trials. And also I realized that I need to improve more on my skill, my rhythm and my fitness. It was an unexpected win. I feel happy."

"He's a hard working boy and I think he has a good future," said Lines.

On his ride on BLACK QUAIL, Lines said: "He showed good composure on the horse. He got him into a nice rhythm and didn't panic when he was challenged in the straight."

Incidentally, BLACK QUAIL also provided another apprentice Chong Kar Hoong with his maiden win in July last year, although it wasn't Chong's debut ride.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1500M
12	MOMENT OF JUSTICE	EP Tan	S Shazmin	1
	(10 b.a.g Daliapour - Fleety Moments by Grandera)
7	Overseer	S Hamilton	D Prastiyou	2
9	Commodore Lincoln	AB Abdullah	E Ferreira	3
3	Another Show	HY Cheng	V Espindola	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1500M
10	D'GREAT MAGIC	EP Tan	S Shazmin	1
	(8 b/br.a.g Mulaazem - Sweet Misery by Tayasu Tsuyoshi)
6	Tin's Machine	WC Lim	SU Lim	2
9	Always Afraid	MP Thwaites	A Suriya	3
2	Reborn General	HY Cheng	J Low	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1500M
1	ICHIKA BACHIKA	S Dunderdale	J Low	1
	(7 b.a.g Moshe - Memphis Dawn by Elvstroem)
11	Mazanze	K Coetzee	HS Gill	2
4	Triple One Star	R Lines	L De Souza	3
9	MGR Rocket	NM Selvan	S Ruzaini	4

4	CLASS 4 - 1600M
1	RAGNAR	CC Ooi	H Haikal	1
	(6 b.nz.g Shocking - Barbara Jennie by Bahhare)
2	Michikawa	F Maynard	R Rueven	2
6	Big Franck	S Dunderdale	J Low	3
3	Najwan	AB Abdullah	E Ferreira	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1250M
5	CAVALLA COURT	NM Selvan	MM Firdaus	1
	(7 b.nz.g Sepoy - Trouville by Hurricane Sky)
6	Dragon Ryker	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
11	Arif	S Hamilton	R Rueven	3
2	Mercurial Turn	R Lines	M Ekdihar	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1250M
3	GOLDEN SPRINT	KC Tiang	S Ruzaini	1
	(5 b.nz.g Contributor - Got The Snitz by Snitzel)
7	Whiz Fizz	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
10	Harveywallbanger	R Lines	D Prastiyou	3
2	Lupin	MW Teh	HS Gill	4

7	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1100M
2	TAKREEM	AB Abdullah	E Ferreira	1
	(5 ch.a.g Nicconi - La Ranita by Hussoset)
6	Unlimited Star	R Lines	L De Souza	2
9	USA Captain	K Coetzee	HS Gill	3
1	Miracle Captain	R Lines	KP Lim	4

8	CLASS 3 - 1100M
8	HIGH WATER	S Dunderdale	R Rueven	1
	(5 gr.a.g Rubick - Purringa by Purreakist)
4	Exdream	K Coetzee	SN Shiva	2
2	Fa Fa Star	S Dunderdale	J Low	3
5	Leopard Eclipse	F Maynard	SU Lim	4

9	SUPREME A (SW) - 1200M
1	AWESOME STORM	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	1
	(5 br.a.g Phenomenons - Forewarning by Magic Albert)
10	Kong Fu Panda	KC Tiang	J Low	2
12	Sincerely	R Lines	S Ruzaini	3
5	Skydance Eclipse	F Maynard	A Najib	4

10	MAX TWO STAKES (SW) - 1200M
7	SKYLIGHT	S Cook	MM Firdaus	1
	(5 b/br.a.m Press Statement - Ashenti by Ashkalani)
5	Suspicious Mind	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
1	RS Diago	M Sukri	S Ruzaini	3
6	Emphatic	R Lines	HS Gill	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1250M
2	WHITE PEACH	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(6 br.a.g Ruwi - Isthistheone by Testa Rossa)
7	BLACK QUAIL	R Lines	M Seelan	1
	(9 br.nz.g Coats Choice - Sefidi by Bigstone)
3	Magnitude	SY Lim	MM Firdaus	3
5	Tau Keh Soh	F Maynard	A Najib	4
	*Deadheat for 1st

12	CLASS 4 - 1250M
6	MYSTERIOUS CAPTAIN	R Lines	KP Lim	1
	(4 br.nz.g Sweynesse - La Pin by Pentire)
5	Inherit	HY Cheng	HK Cheng	2
3	Under Oath	F Maynard	V Espindola	3
4	Smart Racer	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4