Kranji apprentices making their mark
  Story By Michael Lee     

Friday, 17 January 2020: In the 40 races already run at Kranji in 2020, 17 of them were won by apprentice jockeys.

Matthew Pumpa (with cap) takes his charges for a run around the stables.
Matthew Pumpa (with cap) takes his charges for a run around the stables.


Which roughly translates to two in every five races. That is a telling record in a sport which is usually dominated by the more accomplished seniors.

No doubt, the weight claim is a significant contributory factor, but it is also clear the new generation of locally-groomed riders can hold their own better in head-to-head contests with the likes of Vlad Duric, Benny Woodworth and Michael Rodd these days.

Most of the credit for the way our apprentice jockeys have come up by leaps and bounds has to go to the Singapore Turf Club's riding school.

While it's been there for a long time, the approach is more structured since it's been helmed last year by former Melbourne jockey Matthew Pumpa as the new apprentice and claiming jockey coach, while assisted by senior starter Damien Kinninmont, who himself was instrumental in single-handedly taking the school where it is at in his 12 years at the Club.

The duo are ever-present in guiding their charges five days a week, including racedays where Pumpa is stationed at the weighing room/jockeys' room keeping his eyes peeled on their rides and giving them instant feedback as they weigh back in or a pep talk when they weigh back out.

Dennis Tan Zhi Xian was the latest recruit to win his first race on Sunday. Besides words of encouragement and pats on the back all round from both Pumpa, Kinninmont and his peers, a tradition was upheld back at the classroom on Wednesday – a delicious chicken rice treat for everybody!

But no second helpings for a career where excessive eating is not encouraged, especially close to a raceday.

That happy note for Tan was, however, soured by a four-day ban for dropping his hands on Fight To Victory, which in the Stewards' view cost him fourth place.

Regardless, Tan took it in his stride and was back to school on Wednesday, not just for the chicken feast, but hungrier to learn. Pumpa replayed the race to analyse the fault made by Tan, and as a cautionary tale for the other apprentice jockeys.

"It was great to ride my first winner with Rapid Fire. The other jockeys congratulated me and Matt Pumpa was very happy for me," said the 28-year-old Tan.

"But I'm still learning and the classroom sessions with Matt every Wednesday is very good. We go through our mistakes, like the suspension I got on Sunday, and we try to not make the same mistake again.

"These classes give us a lot of knowledge about racing. They teach us safety and a lot of stuff, we also get to jump on the mechanical horse.

"Matt just asked us today who would like to go to Australia for a new apprentice jockeys' series, but I opted out because I feel I still need to establish myself as a rider on my own turf first."

One apprentice jockey who was among the first to put his hand up for the gig was Nizar Mohammad. With 11 winners already under the belt, the mature-aged apprentice jockey who came through the Singapore Training Academy for Racing (STAR) programme, is regarded as one of the most-vastly improved rider in his batch.

But just like Tan, Nizar doesn't consider himself as the finished article yet, despite being one of the oldest at 33, and having earned rave reviews for his recent performances, more so his 10-out-of-10 ride on Gingerella last Friday. Even though he already has the chance to learn from one of the best in his boss, former eight-time Singapore champion jockey Saimee Jumaat, he is avid to absorb as much as he can.

"It's important to listen to feedback, not just from the coach, my boss Saimee, but also from the other apprentices. We learn from each other," said Nizar.

"Saimee is the best. He is so stern at work, and yet he lets us loose, but under his control. He lets us know who the boss is.

"I'm still relatively new and still make mistakes, but our coach Matt Pumpa is always there to point out our mistakes. That's the only way we can improve.

"Besides improving on our riding skills, I also come to the classes to learn about racing tactics, an area which I personally want to improve in.

"The coach praised me for my ride on Gingerella, but the mare is good and made me look good."

While Nizar modestly played down his contribution in the smart mare's first-up win in the Class 2 speed dash over 1000m on Friday night, Pumpa lavished praise on the ride.

"Nizar has improved a lot. I liked that ride, especially when he came off the fence at the 600m to sit outside the leader," said the Australian coach.

"He showed great balance in driving the mare past Benny (Woodworth on Lim's Dream), who is never easy to beat in a tight finish. I also liked how he just went hands and heels in the last bit just to hold his narrow advantage.

"The boys are showing great improvement with the recent results on the tracks, but they have to keep working hard at it and keep practising on the Equicizer (mechanical horse) as we race only twice a week.

"A big thank you to (former apprentice jockey) Noh Senari, who is the fitness leader when we pop by the parade ring for some high-intensity cardio workouts. It's a fun way to keep fit and strong, especially around the thighs and upper torso."