Mazuki siblings take the spotlight

Zulhilmi off to a flying start on debut while Akmazani claims the highlight race in KL

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New apprentice jockey Zulhilmi Mazuki giving the thumbs up after opening his account aboard Forest Gold in the Class 5B race (1,300m) at Sungai Besi on Dec 20.

PHOTO: SELANGOR TURF CLUB

Sharon Zhang

Apprentice jockeys and siblings Zulhilmi Mazuki and Akmazani Mazuki won a race each at the eight-race meeting at Sungai Besi on Dec 20, but their victories grabbed the limelight for slightly different reasons.

The newly licensed Zulhilmi, who is the younger of the two, caught the attention of racegoers when he hit it right off the bat with a smart victory aboard Forest Gold at his first ride in Race 2.

It might have been only a mediocre Class 5B race (1,300m) worth RM32,000 (S$10,100),but from the way the 23-year-old jockey bravely drove home his master Frank Maynard’s five-year-old galloper from the inside rails, it showed racing runs in his blood.

Born in Kelantan, Zulhilmi grew up around horses and began riding at the age of eight.

His father is an avid rider and horse owner, and his three brothers, including Akmazani – who has tasted success both in Singapore and Malaysia – works in the racing industry.

Six years after joining Maynard’s yard, Zulhilmi was granted his apprentice jockey’s licence recently and made his debut in Kuala Lumpur this weekend with three rides – two rides on Dec 20 and one ride on Dec 21 – all for his master.

Forest Gold began well from gate 6, but was snagged back to second last, just ahead of Sahm (Ikram Jamaludin),in