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The wedding gift may have come one week late, but just-married jockey A’Isisuhairi ‘Harry’ Kasim still greeted Sunday’s win aboard Hiko Yunikon as another welcomed blessing to his newfound status.
The former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey tied the knot with fiancée Jannah on January 28, a doubly auspicious day given it was also the first day of the Lunar New Year.
With no honeymoon yet planned for the young couple, the Kelantan-born 31-year-old went straight back to work on Monday, taking four rides, with two third placings (Enthuse and Moritz Eclipse) as his closest to taking his marital bliss to another level.
He fired blanks again on Friday, coming up with another two third placings (Mozart Eclipse and Rock Eagle) as his best results from five rides.
With decent chance Hiko Yunikon his only one booking at Sunday’s meeting, A’Isisuhairi did not let that one bullet go begging. The $17 chance was always in an ideal spot in fifth spot on the rails, less than three lengths off pacesetter Super Big (Derreck David) before improving around the weakening leader as they rounded the home turn.
Super Joy (Barend Vorster) would not let him slip away as he stuck on well on his outside, but Hiko Yunikon reigned supreme as he went on to post a three-quarter-length victory. Favourite Satchmo (Manoel Nunes) ran on from the rear division, but lacked that punch in his finish to run third another neck away.
The winning time was 1min 6.69secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
“I just got married and it’s a great feeling. It feels like I’m starting a new life,” said A’Isisuhairi.
“Maybe it’s the new responsibilities, but I just feel like I have an even greater confidence to go out there and win more races now.
“That was my only ride of the day, but sometimes it’s not about the quantity but the quality. The right horse came along and he was in the right race.
“I rode him at his last two starts and he was down in class today. Things just worked out perfectly for him.”
Mok, who is also the trainer of Enthuse, was delighted he had been able to give A’Isisuhairi a nice present, even if it was belated.
“I couldn’t make it for Harry’s wedding reception as it was held on the first day of Chinese New Year,” said Mok.
“I hope that win makes up for it. Congratulations Harry!”
Raced by the Perpetuals Racing Stable, Hiko Yunikon was recording his fourth win in 32 starts, but his first under this name and his first for Mok. The Lucky Unicorn five-year-old used to be known as Best Nine when prepared by Alwin Tan.
Hiko Yunikon has now taken his stakes earnings close to the $160,000 mark for his connections.