Hairi Marzuki (red cap) and Thee Auld Floozie
Trish Dunell
Hairi Marzuki repaid the faith showed in him by his employer Stephen Marsh when he guided the stable runner Thee Auld Floozie to victory at Rotorua.
Success in Saturday's Lowe Schollum Jones Insurance Brokers 1400 represented the promising apprentice's first New Zealand victory.
"He's a really good rider and he sits on the horses very well," Marsh said. "She's not the easiest horse to ride and she can miss the start, but he's got her out and done a great job."
Marzuki, who has ridden one winner in his native Singapore, was happy to sit three wide near the pace before he let Thee Auld Floozie improve and they had their noses in front 700 metres from home.
They were hotly challenged in the straight by Seventh Up and his veteran rider Grant Cooksley, but the younger pairing weren't to be denied and they prevailed by a head.
"It's the second time I've ridden her and she did well last time," Marzuki said. "All thanks to my boss for the opportunities."
He also said he had benefitted from the guidance of Marsh's partner and leading rider Danielle Johnson and the former top jockey and apprentice mentor Noel Harris.
"Danielle has given me a lot of tips and Noel has been helping me out a lot as well."
Sixth when resuming last month at New Plymouth, Thee Auld Floozie's performance confirmed that she is on target for a trip south.
"I was really happy with her first-up, she needed the run, and we've always had her aimed at the Coupland's Mile so she'll have one more run and then fly down for that," Marsh said.
She is currently an $18 chance for the Group Two feature at Riccarton on November 9. – NZ Racing Desk.
Success in Saturday's Lowe Schollum Jones Insurance Brokers 1400 represented the promising apprentice's first New Zealand victory.
"He's a really good rider and he sits on the horses very well," Marsh said. "She's not the easiest horse to ride and she can miss the start, but he's got her out and done a great job."
Marzuki, who has ridden one winner in his native Singapore, was happy to sit three wide near the pace before he let Thee Auld Floozie improve and they had their noses in front 700 metres from home.
They were hotly challenged in the straight by Seventh Up and his veteran rider Grant Cooksley, but the younger pairing weren't to be denied and they prevailed by a head.
"It's the second time I've ridden her and she did well last time," Marzuki said. "All thanks to my boss for the opportunities."
He also said he had benefitted from the guidance of Marsh's partner and leading rider Danielle Johnson and the former top jockey and apprentice mentor Noel Harris.
"Danielle has given me a lot of tips and Noel has been helping me out a lot as well."
Sixth when resuming last month at New Plymouth, Thee Auld Floozie's performance confirmed that she is on target for a trip south.
"I was really happy with her first-up, she needed the run, and we've always had her aimed at the Coupland's Mile so she'll have one more run and then fly down for that," Marsh said.
She is currently an $18 chance for the Group Two feature at Riccarton on November 9. – NZ Racing Desk.