Kranji newcomers Dinar (NZ) (Dalghar) and Hamama (Shackleford) kept up the good head of steam that began with newcomer Qaidoom (Noble Mission) for the new Al Rashid Stable and Mark Walker team last Sunday.
A debutant as well, Qaidoom was the first of a new batch of seven horses to salute for the Kuwaiti outfit and the three-time Singapore champion trainer in an Open Maiden race over 1000m.
One week later, a double from Dinar in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m and Hamama in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1000m gave a possible indication Kranji could be witnessing the emergence of a new force.
“It’s great to saddle another two winners for Al Rashid Stable. They are new supporters and that can only be encouraging for the future,” said Walker.
While Dinar, an unraced grey three-year-old, looked green as grass when seen reefing and tearing under Walker’s apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin in the lead, Hamama was a lot more tractable under the same rider when parked outside leader Teardrops (Endorsement).
The outcome was, however, similar when Singapore’s leading apprentice jockey gave the two Al Rashid Stable wards their heads in the home straight – a convincing victory that augurs well for their Kranji racing careers.
Though still ungainly in his action, Dinar easily shook off his rivals, with the 1200m on the Short Course wrapped up in 1min 12.02secs.
Walker was as usual not trying to stare into a crystal ball, leaving it to time and Mother Nature to give him a more accurate gauge of the two winners’ ability, especially Dinar, who was an unknown quantity under racing conditions.
“Dinar was a bit green, but he won quite easily in the end,” he said.
“He trialled up well, but we don’t really know the strength of the field. If he won as easily today even though he was as green as he was, he must have a lot of ability.
“We’ll keep him at such sprints for now and space his runs. He’s still got some way to go and the more racing he goes through, the more he will learn, and the more we’ll learn about him.”
