Azhar starts new year with group win

SINGAPORE:  Jan 1, 2017
 
GURU-GURU (Azhar Ismail) winning the New Year Cup - SNTC photo
 

For so long the dominant name amongst the jockeys in Malaysia, Azhar Ismail's transition to be based in Singapore in 2015 has not been easy.

Azhar failed to win a race in 2015 and only got his long overdue first win as a Singapore based jockey in February last year when successful on GURU-GURU. He went on to land just three more winners last year.

The new season, though, has started well for the six-time champion Malaysian jockey. And it was again GURU-GURU who gave Azhar the much needed fillip.

Azhar and GURU-GURU just missed out on a big race win when beaten a short head by BAHANA in the Group 3 El Dorado Classic last October.

Two starts later, the pair were to emerge triumphant in the Group 3 New Year Cup over 1900m at Kranji here today, the opening day of the 2017 season.

GURU-GURU won by half a length from BIG BROTHER to record his fourth win in 21 starts.

"This horse has been fantastic to me and the race worked out well for us. Credit to Desmond for maintaining his form during the break," said Azhar.

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

1

 WELCOME 2017 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
3 SPECIAL FORCE S Yeoh MM Firdaus

1
(4 b.nz.g Falkirk - Asset by Golan)
1 Marea Negro H Takaoka D David

2
9 Q Nine Maxim M Walker CK Ng

3
7 Dominy O'Hara H Syafiq

4
 

2

 GOOD HEALTH 2017 STAKES
RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
6 MAJOR ADVANCEMENT D Kok G Boss

1
(3 br.nz.g O'Reilly - Barbara Ann by Elusive City)
4 King Kong S Burridge M Rodd

2
8 Super Dan D Meagher G Mosse

3
7 Major Tom M Walker Chavez

4
 

3

 HAPPINESS 2017 STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
5 SHADOW OF WAR HW Tan O Placais

1
(3 ch.a.g Sebring - Regal Chamber by Archregent)
10 Halo Bright T Kieser CC Wong

2
2 Hello Michelle M Walker R Zawari

3
1 Eatons Gold M Walker CK Ng

4
 

4

 WONG CHIN CHUEN STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4 SOON YI HW Tan A Munro

1
(7 b/br.am.g Sightseeing - Colegiada by Southern Halo )
11 One O Nine HK Tan TH Koh

2
6 Golden Mile C Brown M Rodd

3
1 Alan L Laxon G Boss

4
 

5

 CELEBRATIONS 2017 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
2 RACING TALENT D Kok G Boss

1
(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - Most Striking by Giant's Causeway)
13 Roan Ranger S Yeoh D David

2
12 Aladdin D Hill Sam

3
3 Voyager S Yeoh S John

4
 

6

 MANOEL NUNES STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
2 D'BUFFALO MAN C Brown M Rodd

1
(4 b.nz.g Buffalo Man - Silk Purse by Defensive Play)
6 Siamese Cat R Le Grange MM Firdaus

2
10 O'What A Feeling S Baertschiger Kellady

3
11 Zeus Warrior T Kieser A Munro

4
 

7

 PEACE & JOY 2017 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5 HIGHLIGHT D Hill Sam

1
()
2 Across The Sea H Takaoka D David

2
1 Good Bet ZL Mok Chavez

3
3 Beat To Quarters D Hill CC Wong

4
 

8

 ALWIN TAN HAI WANG STAKES
KRANJI STAKES A - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2 MY LUCKY STRIKE C Brown M Rodd

1
(5 br.a.g Charge Forward - Hanna Rossa by Testa Rossa)
1 Super Winner T Kieser Y Salim

2
5 The General R Le Grange N Juglall

3
4 Sebas T Kieser G Mosse

4
 

9

 NEW YEAR CUP
SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
12 GURU-GURU D Koh Azhar

1
(4 b.nz.g Faltaat - New Height by Fuji Kiseki)
9 Big Brother R Le Grange B Vorster

2
8 Castor O'Hara Saifudin

3
2 Perfect P R Le Grange N Juglall

4
 

10

 LIM'S STABLE STAKES
CLASS 3 - 1400M
4 JUPITER GOLD H Takaoka A Munro

1
(3 br.a.rig Congrats - Contented by More Than Ready)
10 B'Nevagivup S Gray Azhar

2
8 Groenewegen C Brown G Boss

3
2 Toliman C Brown M Rodd

4
 

11

 PROSPERITY 2017 STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
2 PREDITOR S Baertschiger J Powell

1
(4 b.nz.h Savabeel - Bird by Danasinga)
6 Lim's Elusive S Burridge V Duric

2
14 Queen's Seven H Takaoka D David

3
1 Mangatoetoenui L Laxon M Rodd

4