LERNER PICKS UP FAST IN KUALA LUMPUR GIG

Kranji-based French jockey wins on Buffalo Stable’s Trumpy at first cross-border raid

Not too long ago, Kranji jockeys shuttling to Malaysia for the weekend were a dime a dozen.

The likes of Benny Woodworth, Oscar Chavez, Azhar Ismail were frequent flyers, even after the four Malayan Racing Association clubs stopped rotating among each other following the Nipah virus outbreak in 1999.

The trend then tapered off significantly in the last decade or so, to only the odd hoop venturing North if the "lobang" (Malay for opportunity) was good.

But in recent years, it seems to have gained traction again, especially with Singapore racing closing doors in October.

Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro - soon to commence another Kranji stint in March - was a regular commuter, and very successful at that.

But for the most part, it was local riders like Simon Kok, Wong Chin Chuen, A'Isisuhairi Kasim and lately, Jerlyn Seow, who packed their bags for the Sunday pitstop visits, usually at the capital track in Kuala Lumpur.

On Feb 18, it was a Singaporebased expatriate jockey who jumped on the bandwagon for the first time - Marc Lerner.