Singapore Racing: Aussie Jockey Moor Aiming Higher In 2019

Daniel Moor is hoping the new season will get off to a better start than the way the just-concluded one ended for him.

The Australian jockey was just beginning to gather steam to his inaugural 2018 Kranji stint when a freak barrier trial mishap put him out of the saddle on October 24.

Moor fractured his right hand after Sacred Sham suddenly reared in the holding area. The seemingly innocuous incident turned out to be worse than he thought – he ended up with a fractured fifth metacarpal bone.

Hoping against hope he could be back in time before the last meeting on December 9, Moor eventually realised it wasn’t to be.

With the full healing process only completed during the Christmas break, he is raring to go again, especially with a ride on the much-hyped Blizzard in the traditional first Group race of the new season, the $200,000 Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m) to help make up for the disappointing end to his 2018 season.

“It was so frustrating (during my time on the sidelines) watching every race I could have won, especially Jomo, a horse I’ve worked with all year,” said Moor.

“But my wife told me there was nothing I could do about it. I could only let mother nature take care of things.

“My specialist said my hand has started to heal better and there is no pain in my hand anymore. I’ve been back riding work for a couple of weeks now.

“I didn’t go anywhere during Christmas as my whole family is here in Singapore now. I’m pretty fat and unfit after doing nothing, I’ve been walking with the kids but nothing prepares you like riding horses.

“I started with slow work and have been doing gallops and trials recently. One of them is Blizzard, my ride in the New Year Cup.

“I sat on him for the first time this prep, and he gave me a good feel straightaway. I think he needs more distance as he’s not a fierce-going type.

“He can switch off and relax and still have that turn of foot left in him. I just hope he lives up to the rating he came here with.”

The Lee Freedman’s latest top-class recruit from Hong Kong made his Kranji baptism of fire in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on the last day of racing on December 9, running sixth to Rafaello.

Not quite the run expected from a Hong Kong Group 3 winner (Chinese Club Challenge Cup over 1400m) and seven-time winner (1200m to 1400m) against opposition that were considered easier cattle than the one he beat back home, but Moor advised against judging the Starcraft seven-year-old too hastily.

“He ran okay on debut. He had a long time off and probably needed the run,” said Moor.

“I rode him in a trial on Monday and I think he will improve second-up. It was a strong trial, he had a really good hitout for this run in the New Year Cup.

“It’s a race where the horses rated lowly gets in with a chance at the weights. Maximus is the horse to beat even if he is coming back from the mile (Colonial Chief Stakes win) as he loves the Polytrack.

“Jupiter Gold won a Kranji Stakes A race first-up on Poly and he’s a classy sort of horse. Nowyousee has won all before him and will be at his first Group test, but with only 50kgs on his back, he has to be respected.

“It’s going to be a cracking race.”

Whether it’s Blizzard or any of his other rides on January 1, Moor can’t wait to return to the winner’s circle, a place he has not visited since October 21 with Lim’s Lightning – just so he can get the ball rolling towards the fairly lofty heights he has set his sights on this year.

“Let’s hope for a good start. I’m hoping to finish in the Top Five this year,” he said.

Moor finished in 12th place on 21 winners from 227 rides in 2018, representing a strike rate of 9.25%.

– Singapore Turf Club

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