KUALA LUMPUR:  Jun 9, 2024

Following the successful reconstruction of the main track, Selangor Turf Club held its first mixed programme at Sungai Besi here today, with the first four races run on the No 2 track as in the last several weeks.
 
The remaining six races were staged on the main track.

And the star of today’s first such meeting was undoubtedly former Singapore champion apprentice Shafiq Mat Rusof who booted home five winners, joining an elite band of jockeys who achieve such a feat in local racing.
 
Born in Kelantan, Shafiq started his riding career in Singapore in 2011 and made an immediate impact with 37 wins that year, finishing 10th in the overall jockey’s table.

Shafiq went on to capture the apprentice’s title with 54 winners in 2015, placing him fifth in the jockey’s table.

Shafiq then returned to Malaysia and rode five winners last year. He is rapidly regaining his touch and climbing up the table as well. His five wins today lifted him to fourth with 18 wins.

Shafiq first rode PACIFIC PRIME back in February, finding one to beat on that occasion. This time, they combined again to win the open race today easily for the gelding’s third win — his first in Malaysia — in 41 starts.

After sitting out the next race, Shafiq went on to bag the next three races astride OYMPIA, HAPPY PRINCESS and FATAL ATTRACTION.

Winner of just one race in Singapore, OLYMPIA has now picked up five wins in Malaysia.

After being placed in her last three runs following her promotion from Class 5, HAPPY PRINCESS started odds-on in the Class 4 – 1150m sprint and duly obliged with an easy win.

Shafiq landed another popular winner when FATAL ATTRACTION scored first-up in Malaysia. The Australian gelding raced for two seasons back home, winning once over 2100m and was placed thrice in 18 runs.

Shafiq then scored his biggest of the afternoon when ANTIPODEAN stretched his unbeaten run to five in winning the Metro A set-weight event over 1400m.

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