3 minute read
Riding doubles used to be a dime a dozen for jockey Mark Ewe, but times have changed and to bring up such a haul on Sunday had him searching deep into the recesses of his mind for his last one.
The former three-time Singapore apprentice jockey (2008 to 2010) scooped up two-timers in spades during those wonder years, but was quite sure he booted a few home even after he came out of his time. He just could not recall when the last one was.
As it turned out, the last brace came on January 16, 2015 with Gangnam Style and Money King, just a little over three years ago.
The Perth-trained Penang-born rider was again beset by a neck injury sustained from a trackwork fall at the end of that season, but he still did okay at his comeback with nine wins, but last year saw his record plummet to only three wins.
Maybe the fact that his main supporter David Kok also endured a lean year (11 wins) in 2017 partly explained Ewe’s lacklustre performance as well.
But punters were given a bit of a jolt when the pairing woke up with two winners on Sunday. Nobody had really seen it coming with Hephaestus taking the Class 5 race 1400m at odds of $101 before the better-fancied Typhon ($55) doubled the dose in the last race, a Class 4 Non Premier race over 1200m. Both horses are owned by the Olympian Stable and were shedding their maiden status after 27 starts between them.
Ewe, however, said he did not rule out a win from either, even if the double would probably have sat in the 200-1 region in his books.
“It’s a nice surprise to ride a double. I can’t remember my last, but I don’t think it was that long ago,” said the 34-year-old rider.
“I’m glad it came for David and for Astley Phua the owner. Between the two, the last one (Typhon) was a tougher ride.
“He is a horse you have to leave alone in the early part of the race as he pulls hard if he is up there.
“He was still pulling my arms off but I was able to keep him in a nice midfield spot. I had nowhere to go in the straight, but when the horse in front (Sing Roulette) rolled off, I went for the narrow gap and he quickened very well to win.”
The Gold Centre five-year-old indeed looked like he was raring to go throughout his rails-hugging run under a stranglehold from Ewe.
Ewe’s earlier winner also came from behind but over a more sustained run from the back while looping up the field from the top of the straight. Hephaestus, a four-year-old by Hard Spun, got off to a tardy getaway, but put paid to his rivals with the more potent finish, even if Ewe had to ride hands and heels in the last bit as his mount was inclined to lay in under pressure.
“It was a weak field and my horse was always relaxed at the back. He has actually been improving and I thought the 1400m would suit him better,” said Ewe.
“A big thank you to David and the owner for having put me on these two horses. Hopefully they can win more races.”
Kok said he never lost faith in Ewe’s ability even when it was curtailed by a series of injuries, and that he tries to reward his hard work with race rides whenever he can.
“I’ve known Mark when we were all with Charles Leck. He has always been a hard worker,” said Kok who was then assistant-trainer to the former Singapore champion trainer who is now plying his trade in Kuala Lumpur.
“He rode a lot for me in my first few seasons, but he then had a stop-start career because of suspension and injuries, not to mention his weight, but he has never lost his love for riding. I’ve recently been putting him on a lot more often.
“He has been working hard on his weight (now 53.5kgs) and I can tell he is a much fitter and stronger rider now.
“I’m glad he won two races for me on Sunday. That will hopefully give him greater confidence and support from more trainers as well.”
Ewe tends to take the bulk of his rides from Kok, but he quite regularly gets a call-up from other trainers like Leticia Dragon, Young Keah Yong and Tan Hor Khoon.