Dream comes true for Derreck David
Benonian jockey Derreck David is not horsing around.
In August, last year, the City Times reported on the former Kathstan College pupil becoming the 14th jockey in history to be inducted into the Mauritius Racing Hall of Fame.
David is continuing to make a stir in the saddle – this time in Singapore, where he made a dream debut on the Asian island, to win the Kranji feature race at the prestigious Singapore Turf Club, on March 11.
Riding the number 12 horse, Poseidon, trained by Australian Cliff Brown, David got the better of his rivals in the Racing Guide Classic.
Speaking after the race, the 27-year-old said that all his dreams had come true at once.
“Firstly, to be on the Singapore Turf Club surface and then to ride my first winner in a feature race – I am extremely emotional, I cannot believe it has happened, it is unreal,” he explained.
He thanked everybody who helped to make the dream come true.
Speaking about the horse, he said: “He travelled beautifully and, in the straight, with only 52.5kg on his back, he did not stop.
“I tried to come out to intimidate the others, but I didn’t have to as he had his ears pricked and never stopped.
“He’s a nice progressive up-and-coming horse and I’d like to thank Cliff Brown for putting me on him.”
Following his success in Singapore, the Benoni jock, affectionately known as “DD”, flew back to Mauritius where he is striving to defend his Champion Jockey Title on the island for 2016.
His beaming parents, Eblan and Elaine, could not help but brag about their son’s achievement.
“We are extremely proud of our boy and all the other Lebanese boys from Benoni who are achieving all over the world,” said Eblan.
