Wahab poised for first win since return
WINGATUI apprentice Sha Wahab is facing a drastic turnaround in circumstances at Oamaru tomorrow.
The 24year old has five rides on the Waimate Cup day programme that can help him notch his first win since returning to riding after almost four months out of the saddle with a leg injury.
While he was out of action, Wahab returned to Singapore where he caught up with friends and family.
The challenge he faces aboard Belle Boy in the Waimate Cup could not be a more contrasting scene to his time recuperating at home.
Instead of rehabbing in balmy Singapore, the jockey will hard at work on a probably heavy track and cool conditions at Oamaru.
Also, by the time he gets aboard Belle Boy he will need to have shed any excess from the culinary delights he might have enjoyed in his homeland.
Wahab’s 4kg claim will bring his charge’s weight down to 50kg, but the jockey has himself in good shape and on track to drop from his usual riding weight of 52kg, he said.
Although those conditions may not be what Wahab is wishing for, they are exactly what trainer Kelvin Tyler wants for Belle Boy in the open handicap over 2200m.
His galloper loves mud, which was why he struggled on a dead Timaru track at last week.
‘‘The heavy track is going to suit him. He will go a good race, I think.
‘‘ It was bit firm for him last start at Timaru.’’
Wahab and Tyler will reunite in the rating 75 over 1600m with Keep The Courage, the horse who provided the jockey his first win in New Zealand.
Although he has not raced for close to a month, Tyler thinks his charge is forward enough to be highly competitive.
‘‘When he is fresh he is good, but it is a full field and he gets back a bit, which could be his downfall.’’
‘‘We are really happy with him at the moment.’’
Wahab also rides Sir Jack Remington for Tyler in the rating 65 over 1400m.
The 7yrold ran two toptwo finishes before putting in a typically inconsistent run for 10th at Wingatui on Sunday.
‘‘That is just Jack, really. He had a bit of weight, but I thought he could have gone better than that.’’
Tyler’s only other runner at Oamaru tomorrow could lure America’s Cup fans into having a dollar each way.
All Black Magic will go into race 2 after being beaten as a $1.90 favourite in his previous start at Riverton last month.
Tyler is hopeful a change of race tactics for jockey Lee Callaway will have him more competitive.
‘‘He is starting to come to it. We will ride him a bit more patiently this time, hopefully.
‘‘Its the first trip away for him though so, hopefully, he settles OK.’’
Tomorrow’s Waimate Cup day programme is without an open handicap sprint race, but proven open performers will do battle in the rating 90 grade in an intriguing opening race over 1200m.
Madam Bentley will clash again with Jazzman and Something’s Burning after she beat them both at Timaru last start.
Although beaten by both of his rivals, Something’s Burning has the chance to turn that around after running into all sorts of trouble down the Timaru straight.
Gun hoop Alysha Collett will jump aboard the Steven Woodsfordtrained 7yrold, while Amanda Morgan will claim 2kg on Jazzman and Chris Johnson will reunite with Madam Bentley.
Johnson extended his lead in the national jockeys’ premiership to three wins after he rode a winning double and Danielle Johnson rode one winner at Avondale yesterday.
Both riders have seven mounts on today’s Te Rapa programme.
Chris Johnson’s big chance to extend this lead comes at tomorrow’s Oamaru meeting where he has seven mounts, while Danielle Johnson will be forced to sit out the day with no North Island meeting scheduled.