Mahadi reaps instant reward
KUALA LUMPUR - Mahadi Taib might have waited for months for his work permit to come through in Malaysia, but the Singaporean trainer hit pay dirt when his first runner in Kuala Lumpur got on the scoresheet on May 17.
Purchased for just A$2,000 (S$1,665) at the Inglis 2021 July (Late) online sale and ran unplaced in two runs for Mahadi in Singapore, Genrich came from just off the pace to score a 1¾-length victory at his fifth Malaysian start in the RM38,000 (S$11,500) Class 5A sprint (1,020m) at Sungai Besi.
After the son of Your Song last ran ninth in a Restricted Maiden race (1,400m) at Kranji on July 30, 2023, he suffered from tendon issues and had to be backed off.
After racing in Singapore came to a halt in October 2024, Genrich was one of the horses Mahadi brought over when he relocated to the capital of Malaysia. But, with the approval of his work permit being held up, Genrich had to come under Malaysian trainer Ooi Chin Chin's care for the time being.
The four-year-old gelding raced four times and finished fourth twice under Ooi.
After Mahadi had his work permit approved about two weeks ago, Genrich was transferred back to his yard and won a trial on April 29 before his race at Mahadi's first meeting in Malaysia on May 17.
Though the former syce currently trains 15 horses, Genrich was his only runner at the meeting.
Ridden by Lim Shung Uai, Genrich ($54) jumped from barrier 7 and settled in fourth with Banker'sseventytwo (Harmeet Singh Gill) setting a brisk pace from Give Me Five (Uzair Sharudin) and Sacred Order (Andre da Silva).
Genrich moved up swiftly to second spot upon making the turn into the straight. The Fabulous Stable-owned gelding kept closing in behind the leader at the 300m before finally sprinting past Banker'sseventytwo at the 100m to win.
Pacific Stout (Laercio de Souza) ran another 1¼ lengths away in third. The winning time was 59.04sec for the 1,020m on the turf.
"I am happy to get my first win with my first runner," said Mahadi, who has worked with various trainers in Singapore before getting his trainer's licence in 2022.
"I am especially happy because this horse (Genrich) had tendon issues after his last race in Singapore and could not race for some time.
"This horse has settled down a lot since he wore blinkers-pacifiers, so I might step him up to 1,200m next, run him a bit quieter than before and see how he goes from there.
"The work permit took quite some time and it was only approved about two weeks ago I think, but I would like to thank the Selangor Turf Club for helping me."
Although Mahadi did not have a runner at the Kuala Lumpur meeting on May 18, things are still up and running with more of his horses to be fielded in the two-meeting weekend in Malaysia next week.
"I will run Top Confidence in a 1,300m race in Ipoh next Saturday, and then Good Star and Leiniao over 1,200m in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday," he said.
The Ipoh meeting would be held on May 24 while the Selangor meeting would take place on May 25.
Lim, who was at his third ride on Genrich, said patience was the key to the horse's first career win in Malaysia.
"Mahadi told me to ride patiently. I could see that the pace was very fast so I only made my move passing the 600m," said the Malaysian jockey.
"I rode him in a trial recently. He won his trial so I was quite confident of a win today."
French jockey Marc Lerner booted home his first winner atop the Simon Dunderdale-trained Thunderous in the RM45,000 Open Novice event (1,400m) on May 17 at his first long-term stint in Malaysia.
After sitting on the girth of the leader Sakura (Mohd Zaki) for most parts of the way, Lerner made his move on the Written Tycoon four-year-old at the 400m. Night Warrior (de Souza) was gaining momentum with every stride on the outside, but Thunderous ($13) kept finding under Lerner's strong urgings and opened his account by 1¼ lengths.
Lerner, former partner of Singapore champion galloper Lim's Kosciuszko - who ran a creditable third first-up in the Listed Straight Six (1,200m) at Flemington on May 17 - went on to score another win aboard the Joseph Leck-trained Wait U Know ($23) in the RM32,000 Class 5B event (1,300m) on May 18.
After posting four wins at his three previous short-term visits to Malaysia, Lerner has decided to base himself in Selangor after his last stint in New Zealand.
Another ex-Kranji jockey, Oscar Chavez, landed his first Malaysian winner in 2025 with the Jerome Tan-trained Ahone ($32) in the RM32,000 Class 5 contest (1,020m) at his second meeting on May 18, after coming close with two thirds from seven rides earlier.
The Panamanian-born hoop, who picked up two placings from five rides at Sungai Besi on May 17, last rode in Abu Dhabi on Feb 28.
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