Pacific Spirit (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) gave popular jockey Vlad Duric his 700th win in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race (1600m) at Kranji on Sunday.
Barely a week after five-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes brought up his 700th winner in Singapore with Lim’s Bighorn last Saturday, Duric, too, joined the “elite 700-club”, which had three previous Kranji jockeys, Barend Vorster (789 wins), Saimee Jumaat (776) and Joao Moreira (737) also on the roll of honour.
With a strong pace early in a very spread-out field, Duric had to make an early move at the 650m on the three-year-old son of Rip Van Winkle, with the whip pulled to keep in touch at the final bend.
Upon turning for home, Pacific Spirit looked to have plenty of momentum and although he still spotted Sky Eight a few lengths at the 350m, he made a serious challenge at the furlong post, albeit with Khao Manee (NZ) (Remind) for company.
Those cheering for Duric would have gone hoarse when Pacific Spirit hit the front at the 100m and although Khao Manee kept him honest to the wire, the David Kok-trained gelding won comfortably by three-quarters-of-a-length in the end.
The winning time was 1 min 40.24secs for the 1600m on the Polytrack. Pacific Spirit’s first win in 12 starts took his prizemoney to over S$23,000 for the Pacific Stable.
Pacific Spirt was sold by breeders Windsor Park Stud at the 2022 Book 2 Sale for $30,000 to Enigma Farm / Upper Bloodstock.
But the win was all about the jockey, who rode his first winner way back in 2009 on Master Key for ex-Kranji trainer Len Treloar, after health scares and weight issues almost derailed his career on more than one occasion.
“It’s been a battle at times,” said Duric, who allowed himself a little fist pump after crossing the line first for the 700th time at Kranji.
“It might just be my age but my lower back has been an issue and I still have trouble with my throat. But, they’re manageable now and so is my weight. I have been in good health of late and the 700-win mark was definitely a goal.
“I’ve been here (Singapore) for a long time, so to get the treble today and reach that milestone was very satisfying.”
Duric began riding long-term in Singapore in 2009, winning champion jockey titles in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 with 83, 73, 88 and 65 wins respectively.
Those were golden years for Duric, who fondly remembers the support he received in his earlier years at Kranji.
“You can’t survive as a jockey without support and (kiwi trainer) Stephen Gray gave me amazing support early,” reminisced the 2007 Caulfield Cup-winning jockey.
“He (Gray) gave me so many opportunities and one of my biggest thrills was to ride for him on Lim’s Cruiser in the (Gr.1) Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot (2019).
“Back in the good old days, it was also great to ride for good guys like (ex-Kranji trainers) Pat Shaw, Cliff (Brown), (the late) Laurie (Laxon) and Mike (Michael) Clements, to name just a few. A big thank you to those guys, especially Stephen.
“It’s (Singapore racing) ending soon, so we have to move on, but this place is special and I’m thankful to have been involved.”
Other New Zealand bred winners at Kranji on Sunday were Tennet Tentennet (NZ) (Telperion), Commander Jones (NZ) (Charm Spirit) & Energy Baby (NZ) (Rich Enuff).
