Gareth Pepper (Singapore Turf Club)
Irish eyes were smiling after South Australian Dux apprentice jockey Emily Finnegan scored her first Singapore win aboard Gol Goal on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Irish jockey did not taste success from five previous rides at her first two Kranji meetings, with a third place aboard Solaris Spectrum for her Kranji master Shane Baertschiger as her best showing, but she quickly made up for it by getting right on target in Sunday’s opener, the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1400m.
While there is no doubt Finnegan can ride, what stood out even more was her composure when $14 favourite Gol Goal flopped out of the gates, but she calmly settled the Towkay five-year-old at the rear before slowly allowing the tardy beginner to improve around the field from the 600m - and sprint to the line as the finishing touch.
Gol Goal was still inclined to lay in under pressure but Finnegan again showed skills beyond her years to keep him on an even keel towards that first precious win.
El Camino (Zuriman Zulkifli) let down well to grab second place another 1 ½ lengths away. Race-leader Sun Empire did well to tow up the field but knocked up in the end to run third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 23.63secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
“I’ve waited for a week to get the monkey off the back,” said a clearly happy and relieved Finnegan.
“I’ve worked this horse and he is quietest gem in trackwork, but Shane told me he can be slow out of the gates and I was prepared for that. I just let him find his own feet, find his own rhythm and let him do his best work late.
“He was laying in in the straight, but he was too good in the end, and did the rest. Shane has trained this horse to perfection.”
A clearly impressed Baertshiger for one would definitely be putting the plucky lass on a few more horses before she leaves.
“Emily has done everything right since she’s joined us. She hasn’t received much support from trainers outside, but I’m happy to put her on,” said the Australian handler who has thus far supplied six of her 10 rides.
“She rode Gol Goal a treat. This horse always misses the kick and I told her not to worry about that, he’s best ridden quiet.
“She took him to the outside and got the job done.”
Previously known as Sacred Army, Gol Goal has now recorded two wins and seven placings from 21 starts for stakes earnings around the $120,000 mark for the H & M Stable.
The five-year-old gelding was an $8,000 graduate of Little Avondale Stud's 2013 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale draft.