Koch optimistic about January double, latest racing news

January is the first month on the Roman calendar, but it’s also the first month chosen by jockey Simon Kok for Saturday’s $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year Classic (1,400m).

After a ‘day of the week’ theme such as Wednesday and Saturday, the son of the Swiss ace is in line with the trendy naming that champion owner Falcon Racing Stable chose for select horses such as February, April and May. Part.

Donna Logan-trained Gelding in the first leg of the Singapore Three Years Challenge, Group 3 Singapore Three Years Sprint (1,200m) on 8 April.

But about six to eight weeks ago, the former two-time Singapore champion’s apprentice jockey may have been perplexed.

Kok turned out to be the winning partner of the three other contenders that stand in his way on Saturday: Flying Nemo, Coin Toss and Takanini.

After all, the Malaysian hoops committed in January with a sprint. But he didn’t know if he pulled the right rein.

Coin Toss and Takanini took part in the race, but after five positive cases of morphine, they were sent to scratch en masse by trainer Michael Clements.

As for Flying Nemo, the son of a Desmond Coe-trained Vespa, with three wins in four starts for Kok, he skipped the sprint and opted for the classic.

But Koku didn’t give it a second thought, even when he saw the trio’s name on the handicap.

But one trainer tried his luck.

“Desmond asked me if I wanted to ride something in the second leg, even though I probably already knew the answer. I haven’t had a chance to jump off since January,” Koch said.

“He won the first leg and the second leg will suit him better. 1,400m is a better distance for him, but he will find a stronger opponent.

“He had a good draw in the sixth. Most horses run.

“I think he’s somewhere in the midfield, in a similar position to last time. But there are a few horses that are likely out, so it also depends on the early speed.”

Koku has full respect for Flying Nemo, piloted by Amirul Ismadi.

“I think Flying Nemo is also a good three-year-old. I think he measures up well,” he said.

“The only problem is he stepped up to 1,400 m for the first time. But I rode him at a grass gallop, so I’m sure he can handle the turf. He did really well.”

Showing his usual spirit of fair play, Cook, who is currently in 4th place on the 12-horse winner of the log, held the other two horses in high esteem as well.

“I won the coin toss, too. He’s a strong chance,” he said.

“Takánini impressed a lot of people with his second win.

Logan, who holds luxury brands (Yusof Fazli) and Knippenberg (Ronnie Stewart) in third and fourth place respectively in the sprint, is happy to have the same safe hand in January.

“I said the sprint winner would get the best ride. Simon certainly gave January a great ride.

“But in all fairness, luxury brands and Knippenberg were so far apart, so far from that position.

“The 1,200m was perfect for them, but it was too short in January, so this result came as a surprise and totally unexpected.”

While her trio was dwarfed by distance in the second leg, Logan doesn’t rule out another result that defies the pattern.

“Looking at the first leg, both Luxury Brand and Knippenberg actually ran 1,400 meters because they were forced to race wide,” she said.

“They may run out of it, but January will be a more appropriate distance and it will be a big danger again.

“Luxury Brand is a little wider (8) again, but this time Knippenberg is the draw (4) and Ronnie knows him well.

“The field isn’t strong. It’s an open contest, a race of tactics, but there’s also new blood in it.

“My three horses are healthy and doing well. Not much between them.”