'Harry' steers Wild Geese to QE II Cup win

SINGAPORE - "Harry" Kasim had a smile as wide as the turf track when he crossed the line on WILD GEESE to win the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kranji yesterday evening.

It was a great result - and a great ride - from the young hoop, who last season topped the apprentice ranks with a string of winners.

In fairness, the current season hadn't been a great one for him. Until only recently, his winners had been few and far between.

Until yesterday, that is, when he rode a copybook, front-running race on Wild Geese to land his second Singapore Group 2 victory in fine style.

Last season, Kasim tasted Group victory when he steered Trudeau to lift the EW Barker Trophy.

Now this.

Small wonder the jockey was over the moon after the weigh-in. "This is so special," he gushed. "I'm so happy to have won this for Dr KC Tan. He was the one who gave me my first Kranji winner and he kept the faith with me by offering me the ride on Wild Geese."

PROUD

Pointing to his racing silks - the yellow and purple squares of Hippocrates Stable, Kasim added: "I'm so proud to wear these colours."

Asked to look back on the race, Kasim said: "I was happy to let my mount lead and I was surprised that no one took us on. Well, they came at me from the top of the straight and that got me a little worried.

"So I woke up my mount and, with the finish in sight I knew we were not going to be caught. Yes, this is so special."

Kasim jumped Wild Geese out cleanly at the 2,000m start and when the field passed the grandstand the first time, he had a length on Bendicion, Cash Luck and Johnny Guitar.

Into the back stretch and Wild Geese was still bowling along nicely in front. Cash Luck kept him busy. Bendicion was up there with Johnny Guitar content to stay fifth.

Kasim kept them all at bay and turned for home with a healthy lead. As expected, that was when the challenges came but it was clear to racegoers in the stands that the five-year-old by Exceed And Excel was not going to be beaten.

So it was, with Kasim riding his mount with his whip on the left, Wild Geese kept up a relentless gallop to score a truly deserving victory.

Wild Geese's trainer, Steven Burridge, was not sparing in his praise for his rider. "Kasim did a good job," he said. "He rode a mighty good race. I'm happy for him. He deserved the victory."

As for Wild Geese, Burridge said: "He's going right through the classes and he ran a grand race. I don't think he was ever going to be headed."

Wild Geese, who beat Johnny Guitar by half a length, paid a good dividend of $54 for the win and $13 for the place. Johnny Guitar paid $5 for the place while BENDICION - the rank outsider in the 10-horse field - paid a thumping $46 for finishing third.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP

Kasim did a good job. He rode a mighty good race. I'm happy for him. He deserved the victory.. - Trainer Steven Burridge (above, right) on yesterday's win.

This article was published on April 28 in The New Paper.

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