Maia bids farewell to Kranji on winning note

SINGAPORE:  Jan 23, 2021
 
GRAND KOONTA winning his first start of 2021 with Ruan Maia astride
- SNTC photo
 

A pick-up ride provided a fitting farewell to Ruan Maia who has been riding in superb form since the start of the new season, with seven winners in the last three meetings.

Just when he looked to end his final meeting at Kranji today winless, up came the ride on GRAND KOONTA in the Kranji Stakes A - 1200m event.

Unplaced twice in group races at the tailend of last year, GRAND KOONTA bounced back to form to get his 2021 campaign to the winning start.

Sparingly raced with just 11 starts in the past two seasons, the Irish gelding won five times and was also placed second four times, including the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy in late 2019 and second in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl early last year.

GRAND KOONTA managed a win in eight starts at two and three in England before coming to Singapore.

Maia, a former champion jockey in Macau and second to Vlad Duric at Kranji last year, has been granted a licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club starting March 1.

"Thanks so much to James Peters for that ride, and to everybody who have supported me during my stay in Singapore. I believe I’ve done a good job," said Maia who rode eight winners in four racing days.

"Now it’s time for a new challenge in Hong Kong, but I like I said before, this is only goodbye. I would like to come back to Singapore to ride again as I really love the place."

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

1 

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
8 FIREWORKS C Brown K Hakim

1
  (5 ch.nz.g Ekraar - Brooklyn Roads by Bertolini)  
6 Takhi J Lim R Maia

2
10 Sayonara C Brown O Chavez

3
1 Bear Witness S Gray S Noh

4
 

2

 MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
11 NEW GARDEN J Tan CC Wong

1
  (4 br.a.g War - Amicable Agreement by Elvstroem)  
10 Phaxe R Le Grange J van der Merwe

2
2 Showbound M Walker R Woodworth

3
12 Ninetysix Warrior D Koh K Hakim

4
 

3

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
10 THUNDER T Fitzsimmons I Saifudin

1
  (5 b.e.g Battle Of Marengo - Quail Landing by Mark Of Esteem)  
7 Whistle Grand L Khoo M Lerner

2
11 Eastiger DL Freedman R Iskandar

3
5 Sacred Judgement M Walker PH Seow

4
 

4

 CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
5 GOLD KINGDOM C Brown O Chavez

1
  (5 ch.a.g Animal Kingdom - Bellasinga by Danasinga)  
4 Blitz Power J Ong TH Koh

2
7 High Limit J Tan I Saifudin

3
1 Zahau M Clements R Maia

4
 

5

 OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1400M
3 PASIR PINJI D Logan F Yusoff

1
  (4 b.nz.g Nadeem - Mistaar by Iffraaj)  
7 Strong N Best CT Kuah S John

2
6 Fountain Of Fame J Peters M Nizar

3
1 Valencia S Gray M Lerner

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1800M
5 ROYAL PAVILION M Clements S Shafrizal

1
  (5 b.a.g Casino Prince - Military Blonde by General Nediym)  
4 Special Ops J Ong J Powell

2
2 Wind Trail H Takaoka M Lerner

3
11 Gold Reward C Brown K Hakim

4
 

7

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
12 CLARTON SUPREME KS Tan R Iskandar

1
  (5 b.nz.g Showcasing - Tempranillo by Faltaat)  
2 Diamond Mine S Burridge J Powell

2
10 Lim's Rhythm M Walker S John

3
7 Voluntad H Takaoka O Chavez

4
 

8

 CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4 SURGE L Dragon M Lerner

1
  (5 b.a.g Exceed And Excel - Antillanca by Street Cry)  
9 Snip D Meagher PH Seow

2
12 River Roca KY Young R Iskandar

3
8 Lonhro Gold C Brown T Krisna

4
 

9

 KRANJI STAKES A (SW) - 1200M
3 GRAND KOONTA J Peters R Maia

1
  (6 gr.ir.g Dark Angel - Wrong Key by Key Of Luck)  
7 Churchill R Le Grange J van der Merwe

2
2 Fame Star L Khoo R Iskandar

3
4 Nowyousee KS Tan M Lerner

4
 

10

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
12 METAL WORLD J Lim O Chavez

1
  (4 b.am.g Paynter - Thundering Hoofs by Langfuhr)  
5 Mandrake J Peters M Lerner

2
6 Super Smart KY Young S John

3
3 Imperium M Clements R Maia

4