When it rains, it pours for jockey A’Isisuhairi Kasim who finally opened his 2022 account at the fifth Kranji meeting on Saturday with a hat-trick of wins to boot.
Starved of winners since the new season kicked off on January 2, the Malaysian hoop had gone through 22 rides without getting the monkey off his back.
After his first four bullets on Saturday all finished out of the money, A'Isisuhairi was left with three rides, working out Sayonara might be his best chance to break his duck and get a timely hongbao (red packet) before he serves a one-day suspension for careless riding at the Chinese New Year meeting on February 2.
The enforced holiday will certainly be more bearable after A'Isisuhairi not only got on board with $63 shot Circuit Mission (see earlier report), but went on to ring up two more in quickfire succession, aboard Sayonara ($26) in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1800m and Entertainer (see earlier report) in the day's highlight.
"In the new season, every jockey is looking for his first winner. I've had five seconds, it hasn't been an easy start and it's been frustrating," said the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey who finished top local jockey in 2020.
"I'm glad it happened today and to get three winners is a bonus. I knew I had some decent rides, but I didn't put too much hope on them.
"I just wanted to do my job. Honestly, the less pressure the better, and if there are no winners, I'll just have to wait for another day.
"I just went in with that kind of positive thinking, just keep everybody happy. I remember Ricardo (Le Grange) put me on some decent horses and I could only finish second - it's one of those things, the more you think, the more you get stressed.
"But today, after I got the first winner, I was feeling positive, then I got two and it really boosted my confidence. It's like I had a good buzz about myself, it motivated me to go out there and ride another winner.
"When I got onto Entertainer, my last ride, for some reason, as I cantered to the barriers, all of a sudden it felt so natural he would win, too.
"He's a nice horse and he jumped better than we thought, and we were able to get a good position. I was happy to just let him travel for me.
"At the top of the straight, I was confident I could get my third win. He showed a good turn of foot, and I knew he would win at the 200m.
"I won't be riding next Wednesday as I'm suspended, but at least I got a nice hongbao for the new year!"
