Haikal applies Final Touch in maiden win

KUALA LUMPUR:  Nov 20, 2022
 
Hakali Hanif scoring his maiden win on Final Touch - SLTC photo
 

The number 13 may be unlucky for some but not apprentice Muhammad Haikal Hanif.

Allowed to carry a whip for the first time, seized the opportunity to steer FINAL TOUCH home to register his first career win in the Class 3 - 1100m handicap at Sungei Besi here today.

It was the 13th ride for Haikal who becomes the latest to graduate from riding ponies in his native Kelantan to winning races in the capital.

Placed twice on FINAL TOUCH last month when he could only ride hands and heels, the first-season apprentice made it count this time.

Haikal had FINAL TOUCH settled just behind the pace like the two runs before. But this time, he was able to pull the whip on the eight-year-old who produced the best finish among a line of four horses vying for the lead at 200m.

FINAL TOUCH won by 1 3/4 lengths and has been very consistent with one win and three placings in as many starts since coming from Singapore.

The son Of Perfectly Ready scored three times in 23 starts at Kranji. He had raced in good company at three and four in New Zealand for two wins at Avondale and Te Aroha.

"I am happy to make this breakthrough," said Haikal.

"My instructions were to lead if possible or else sit behind the pace. When I used the whip on him, he responded very well and that's when I knew he was going to win today.

"I would like to thank everybody who has helped me to where I am today.

Haikal was brought up with ponies in his backyard. He started riding at the age of eight and by 14, was competing in races on the beach in Kelantan.

After meeting A'Isisuhairi Kassim, a top apprentice in Singapore who also hails from Kelantan, he was determined to become a professional jockey.

Upon graduating from secondary school, Haikal spent a year riding ponies in Kelantan before he was introduced by a friend to work at the Penang Turf Club with trainer Lim Hoon Seng.

When Cheng Han Yong set up his stables at the Selangor Turf Club, Haikal moved to Kuala Lumpur to join the trainer. He was enrolled in the apprentice school a year ago.

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

1

 SPORTS TOTO 6D STAKES
CLASS 5 - 1400M
10 WHITE RABBIT C Leck K Pavinthran

1
(4 b/br.nz.h Alamosa - Lady Cha Cha by Savabeel)
9 Trinity Revival SY Lim A Suriya

2
6 Beautiful One L Moy I Fikri

3
7 Kyo R Lines S Ruzaini

4
 

2

 SPORTS TOTO 5D STAKES
CLASS 5 - 1400M
5 THE ICEMAN C Leck Clyde Leck

1
(7 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Danse Sauvage by Montjeu)
2 Chief Clerk I Ismadi KC Tham

2
1 Aspen S Shanmugam R Rueven

3
8 Calvados P Lee J Low 3
  *Deadheat for 3rd      
 

3

 SPORTS TOTO 4D STAKES
CLASS 5 - 1400M
7 WANTED PAYOUT C Leck Clyde Leck

1
(4 b.nz.g Proisir - Zelt by Red Ransom)
3 Sacred Galaxy P Lee R Rueven

2
1 Leopard Eclipse F Maynard A Suriya

3
4 Miss Michelle CC Ooi KC Tham

4
 

4

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
4 NAJWAN AB Abdullah M Ewe

1
  (5 br.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Mabsam by Stratum)  
3 Topnotch AB Abdullah S Uzair

2
6 El Macho HY Cheng MM Firdaus

3
2 Obsidian C Leck Clyde Leck

4
 

5

 SPORTS TOTO 4D ZODIAC STAKES
OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
2 XAR AB Abdullah S Uzair

1
(4 b.nz.g American Pharoah - Posavina by Tiger Hill)
1 Top Gun S Dunderdale Clyde Leck

2
7 Magic Sixty-One SY Lim KC Tham

3
3 Mysterious Captain R Lines R Nuqman

4
 

6

 SUPREME TOTO 6/58 STAKES
CLASS 3 - 1100M
3 FINAL TOUCH HY Cheng H Haikal

1
(8 br.nz.g Perfectly Ready - Catalma by Old Deuteronomy)
1 Kruger S Shanmugam KC Tham

2
10 Vulcan C Leck Clyde Leck

3
6 Estijaab AB Abdullah MM Firdaus

4
 

7

 SPORTS TOTO SUPREME CHALLENGE CUP
OPEN (SW) - 1400M
4 WHITE HOOF BIRD SY Lim R Nuqman

1
(6 b/br.a.g Denman - Can She Move by Canny Lad)
5 Skydance Eclipse F Maynard R Rueven

2
12 War Dragon L Moy S Uzair

3
3 Gingerella MW Teh I Fikri

4
 

8

 POWER TOTO 6/55 STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1300M
8 ACROBAT R Lines WK Lee

1
(7 ch.nz.g Pins - Turf Fire by O'Reilly)
1 Fa Fa Star S Dunderdale Clyde Leck

2
5 Hairy Fist SY Lim R Nuqman

3
7 RS Diago M Sukri Y Aify

4
 

9

 SPORTS TOTO 4D JACKPOT STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1300M
7 BLEU MARINE HY Cheng S Uzair

1
(6 b.ir.g Dark Angel - Blue Picture by Peintre Celebre)
1 Shoqeet AB Abdullah M Ewe

2
2 Super Happy KC Tiang J Low 2
8 Cosmic Sands S Hamilton S Salee

4
  *Deadheat for 2nd      
 

10

 STAR TOTO 6/50 STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1300M
1 KANTHAKA HY Cheng HK Cheng

1
(5 b.nz.g Showcasing - Rockelle by Rock Of Gibraltar)
4 Life In Sixty-One SY Lim R Rueven

2
2 Dragon Ryker S Dunderdale Clyde Leck

3
3 Asaad AB Abdullah S Uzair

4
 

11

 CLASS 5 - 2000M
6 VALUE OF JUSTICE WC Lim SU Lim

1
  (10 b.a.g Daliapour - Amatilla by Redoute's Choice)  
3 Success Street S Cook S Ruzaini

2
7 Silver Joy HY Cheng R Nuqman

3
2 Smart Investment C Leck Clyde Leck

4