Freedman Takes Leap Of Faith With Iskandar For Tesoro Ride
Malaysian apprentice jockey Iskandar Rosman may have yet to ride a winner, but that has not stopped his master Lee Freedman from entrusting him with the plum ride on Tesoro Privado on Friday night.
The 24-year-old four-kilo claimer was thrilled to bits he would be the one sitting aboard the impressive last-start winner in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m.
At his first start for Freedman in a Class 3 race over 1400m on July 20, Tesoro Privado did not disappoint with Michael Rodd up, putting his 10 rivals to the sword with a three-length win.
Raced by the Titanium Racing Stable, the Argentinian-bred four-year-old son of Orpen racked up his first three wins under the care of Ricardo Le Grange, also performing creditably in the last two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge for the South African handler.
In 36 rides since Iskandar got his licence earlier in the year, he has come close with five seconds latest being Anghiari on August 3 - but Tesoro Privado is by far his first real chance at finally getting the monkey off his back.
It would be normal any young rookie would be a little overawed by such an opportunity, but Iskandar was trying his best not to show it.
Though still wet behind the ears, Iskandar already knows first-hand about the risks of his job. He just recently made his riding comeback after being out of the saddle for two months due to injuries suffered in a race fall on May 11.
Freedman hopes the good vein of form he has struck with the Titanium Racing Stable continues with Tesoro Privado, even if a little disappointed odds-on favourite Nowyousee could only run second to Country Boss on Friday night. He, however, said the promising O’Reilly four-year-old had excuses.
Last year, he missed the Gold Cup and he is back from a spell as well. It’s actually hard to plan for those big races because we race the whole year and those horses can’t race all year.
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com