As one door closes, another door opens.

Simon Kok Wei Hoong lived out that saying first-hand last weekend, with regards to his final Singapore Gold Cup booking this Sunday.

All along set to defend his Singapore Gold Cup title on the same winning partner, Big Hearted, last year's winner of the $1 million Group 1 race over 2000m, the two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey, however, found out on Sunday he had lost the job.

Never a nice feeling for sure as no jockey likes to be on the receiving end of such news, but the fact that Big Hearted's trainer Michael Clements had already sounded him out he could be "between jobs" did lessen the shock impact a little.

He was still gutted. Despite not winning since April, the Hallowed Crown five-year-old had been giving Kok some encouraging signs he was getting close to his Singapore Gold Cup-winning form.

But if there was to be a better remedy to fight such blues, nothing comes close to a replacement ride – and that came in the shape of Shane Baertschiger's offer to steer last-minute starter King's Command.

Some may think that on 73 points, King's Command  may be more of a side-gate (using the opening door analogy) compared to Big Hearted's (93 points) golden gate, but Kok didn't think he was just being "thrown a bone".

"Mr Clements told me I was not riding Big Hearted in the Gold Cup on Sunday. It wasn't really a big shock as he had already told me after the QEII Cup (Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on October 16 when sixth to Hard Too Think) he needed to discuss with the owner (Falcon Racing No 7 Stable)," said Kok.

"They wanted to put (Manoel) Nunes on, but they weren't sure at the time. It wasn't confirmed until Sunday.

"I was still hoping I wouldn't be taken off as the horse had really been showing his ability recently. He's become a much stronger horse ever since blinkers went on.

"I felt he was really unlucky at his last start. He got into a really good position and had every chance, but after the race when I watched the replay, I felt we got stuck on the rails too long.

"It was okay from the 1000m to the 600m, as it was still too early to come out. I still had him underneath me and I wanted to save something in reserve.

"But at the 400m, he was still on the fence. It's only at the 350m that I got to the outside of Top Knight, and he then sprinted with his usual dash to sixth place.

"I feel if he had come out earlier, he could have finished closer."

It's all water under the bridge now as Kok will now focus all his energy on another horse if he wants to win back-to-back Gold Cups – a lightweight chance (50kgs), who ironically ran his last bad race with Kok on before stringing up two wins in a row at his last two starts (Class 4 events over 1400m and 1800m).

The gifted Ipoh-born rider actually had a say in the turnaround, something Baertschiger probably remembered and rewarded.

"I rode King's Command only once (in a Class 3 race over 1600m on July 3). He did not run as expected (sixth to Savvy Command, another Gold Cup lightweight contender)," said Kok.

"I commented to Shane that I felt the horse needed a break, and he agreed with me. He's really progressed a lot when he came back from the break and won twice (including at his last start in a Class 4, 1800m on October 23 when paired up with Zyrul Nor Azman).

"Shane actually offered me the ride earlier, but I told him to hold on as I didn't want to give an answer until I knew what was happening with Big Hearted."

A five-year-old by Tavistock and raced by Baertschiger's Group 1-winning owner Aramco Stable (Aramco and Aramaayo), King's Command has not been so lucky at the barrier draw, though, having picked up the outermost alley in 18, but Kok remains unfazed.

Big Hearted drew 14 in last year's renewal, settled ahead of only one runner before looping the field from the 800m for his charge towards Gold.

Kok sounded like he knew where he would tap his experience from. Ironically, with the empty Grandstand to his right, Kok will have Big Hearted on the other side in barrier 17.

"King's Command has drawn 18. I don't have much choice, I may have to ride him the same way I rode Big Hearted last year," he said.

"Hopefully, I can slot him in somewhere with some cover and then ride him cold."