Sonic gives McMahon a boost

Craig Brennan
Friday, July 24, 2009

Visiting Australian jockey Ric McMahon booted home an overdue winner when Sonic continued the bad run for punters in the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes (Div 2) on Friday night.

Returning a $141 dividend, Sonic scored a half length length victory over King Fury (Saimee Jumaat) with Race Ahead (Ismail Saifudin) a short head away third.

McMahon commenced riding in Singapore back in April but a series of suspensions had seen the young Queensland jockey land just four winners from his previous 74 rides.

Sonic gives jockey Ric McMahon a much-needed fillip in Race 3 on Friday night.

“I was due for a change of luck,” said McMahon. “I’ve had a few suspensions since I’ve been up here and have missed out on a few winning rides because of them.

“I haven’t had the best of luck since I’ve been here, but hopefully this will turn it all around for me.”

McMahon said Sonic had travelled throughout the race before dropping the bit around the 800m.

“I had to give him a bit of a wake up,” said McMahon. “Luckily he responded and he toughed it out well to the line.”

Sonic’s success was the second leg of a winning double for Lim’s Stable who had taken the opening event with Shuttle Express.

The win surprised Sonic’s trainer Steven Burridge who admitted he had been disappointed in the gelding’s previous form.

“He was very disappointing last time,” said Burridge. “I can’t explain what happened.

“Overall he has been a disappointing horse. Hopefully this win will give him some confidence.”

Sonic had been winless since scoring in Class 4 company over the same distance as Friday night’s success on February 14, some 10 runs back.

Sonic is a four-year-old New Zealand bred gelding by Tale Of The Cat from the Green Desert mare Manu and Friday night’s success was his fifth in 24 starts and the victory took his prizemoney to around the $170,000 for Lim’s Stable.