3 minute read

Trainer David Kok has struck a purple patch of form at recent meetings.

Following a double last Friday night, Kok was at it again on Sunday with a race-to-race double.

Saimee Jumaat guided Chan’s Electra to victory in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1600m before The Rude Warrior took out the $55,000 Perak Turf Club Trophy over 1800m.

Ridden by Ivaldo Santana, The Rude Warrior scored by a length-and-a-half over Chief Secretay (Jacky Low) with Terra Firma (Subramaniam Anandan) two-and-a-quarter lengths away third.

Kok said post-race that his “luck was coming back”.

The Rude Warrior, formerly prepared by Michael Freedman, put up a strong staying performance as the gelding was trapped wide for the majority of the trip.

A solid pace was carved out by Do It Right (Soo Khoon Beng) who led the way from Maraeti (Danny Beasley) and Positive Thinking (Barend Vorster).

The Rude Warrior was back in the second half of the field, out three and four wide, but Santana had the gelding travelling comfortably.

Coming off the back The Rude Warrior started to make a forward move to move into fifth position by the time the turn was reached whereby Maraeti had taken the lead.

The Rude Warrior sprinted quickly to reach the lead by the 200m mark and kept the run going strongly to the line.

The gelding was coming off a last start 11th behind Warspirit over 1600m on the turf back on July 29.

“I think coming back to the Polytrack was ideal for him,” said Kok.

“I don’t think he likes racing on the turf and the 1800m journey is ideal for him.

“He’s still not mature this horse and he can still keep on improving. He’s still playing around a bit.

“I think he’s not a bad horse and can go on and win some more races for us.”

A four-year-old by Kempinsky from the Encosta De Lago mare Soorena, The Rude Warrior landed his second win from 12 starts – with four minor placings – took his prizemoney past the $100,000 for the United Dragon Stable.