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Jai Shankar is no stranger to riding four winners in a
single afternoon. But it was the first time he has done it at Sungei Besi.
"I have ridden four winners in Sydney and Canberra. After
my return to Malaysia, I have also ridden four winners in Ipoh and Penang",
said Shankar who was the top rider in Malaysia in 2013 with 52 winners. "I
have ridden three winners a few times on this track but never four in a
meeting."
Shankar started the afternoon, winning the first races on
SIEW YUK and THAI BAHT. It was his first time riding both.
SIEW YUK broke through for his maiden win in 19 starts
while it was the fifth win in 49 outings for eight-year-old THAI BAHT.
When Shankar rode BARBARIAN for the first time over 1500m
two weeks ago, they found a formidable opponent in I'M SMART GREY, finishing
6 3/4 lengths behind the grey.
Remarkably, they turned the tables on the latter over
1300m today, with BARBARIAN winning by 3/4 lengths for the gelding's third
win in seven starts in Malaysia. The Australian gelding, who cost A$700,000
as a yearling, failed to win in 16 starts in Singapore.
SILENT BOSS, who is racing in peak form at the moment,
gave Shankar his fourth win of the day with a mild upset in the Best Of Luck
Stakes (Class 4 - 1600m).
Despite winning his last start and three of his last four
runs, the Street Boss gelding was not fancied in the betting, returning RM52
for a win.
"Looking at my rides, I thought I could win two or may be
three races, definitely not four," said Shankar. "I have to thank everybody,
the trainers and owners who supported me."
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