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The Selangor Turf Club has granted a Jockey license to New Zealander Craig Grylls to ride at the Club’s 2023 EQUINE SANCTUARY Tunku Gold Cup race meeting on Sunday, 28th May 2023.
Craig, who hails from Te Awamutu is the son of Gary Grylls who rode with great success on the Malayan Racing circuit in the late 80's, winning the Perak Sultan Gold Vase on Elcarim in 1988. Thirty three year old Craig, made his debut in New Zealand in 2005 and has recorded 1151 wins in his 18 years of riding, including 85 Group & Listed winners. He clinched 13 Group 1 winners including New Zealand Derby wins aboard Crown Prosecutor (2019) & Rocket Spade in 2021.
Licensed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Craig currently sits in 2nd position on the New Zealand Jockeys' Premiership table with 107 winners. He has also ridden in Australia, Macau and Singapore with success. During his 15 months in Singapore between 2017 and 2018, he rode 44 winners.
Riding at 54kg, Craig has been booked by eleven times Champion Malaysian trainer Richard Lines, to ride Sincerely in the Group 1 2023 EQUINE SANCTUARY Tunku Gold Cup and Invisible in race three. Fellow New Zealander, trainer Simon Dunderdale has booked Craig to ride My Big Boss and Whiz Fizz.
Joining Craig on this Sunday's star-studded race card is Singapore based doyen jockey Benny Woodworth who won Selangor Turf Club Tunku Gold Cups on Golden Ace in 2007 and Capt. Obvious in 2011. Benny rides last start eye catching winner Streets of Fire for the powerful K C Tiang stable in the Cup, which also has Kong Fu Panda engaged, to be ridden by C C Wong who is currently sitting 2nd on the Singapore Jockey rankings with 26 wins.
Internationally travelled Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro returns to Selangor Turf Club where he has a 61% win/place strike rate this season – he rides last year's winner Awesome Storm amongst his ten race engagements.
Rounding out the list of visiting riders is W H Kok who is placed 4th on the Singapore Jockeys' list with 16 seasonal wins – he takes the ride on Dutrow in the HORSE CITY STAKES and last start winner Super Dragon for trainer A B Abdullah.
The twelve race program starts at 12.15pm and is simulcast across the globe.
Selangor Turf Club wishes all connection the very best.