Via Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
Popular jockey Benny Woodworth’s current hot form in the saddle knows no boundaries.
On Sunday, the Malaysian jockey was invited to ride at the Royal Sabah Turf Club (RSTC) three-race meeting, where he duly won one race from three rides.
The globetrotting jockey, who boasts close to a dozen countries on his CV and rode a winner in Shanxi, China at a similar invitational race last year in September, took out the RM56,200 RSTC Gold Cup (1900m) on the favourite Panglima Berantai (eight-year-old by Excites) for trainer Salim.
“It was a nice day. We had no races in Singapore and it was interesting to get the invite and ride in Sabah,” said Woodworth who rode a double at Kranji on Friday to cut back Vlad Duric’s (rode no winners) lead to eight winners.
“Trainers David Kok and Young (Keah Yong) were also invited and got a chance to enjoy a day at the races there.”
Racing in the East Malaysian state is conducted once weekly at the sole Sabah racecourse, Tambalang, north of Kota Kinabalu, and sees the participation of both ponies and thoroughbreds.
The Royal Sabah Turf Club, which is 111 years old, has close ties with the Singapore Turf Club. For example, two years ago, a group of five jockeys from the Malaysian club spent a few days at Kranji to gain further exposure.
