Singaporean jockey Hairi Marzuki can expect further opportunities from the premiership-winning stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman after another tidy performance for them at Rotorua on Saturday.

The 30-year-old guided Crafty Jess to victory in the Keano @ Sentry Hill Farm for the Cambridge trainers after riding the three-year-old to a previous victory at Hastings.

“It was a gutsy effort and it’s always hard to step up again, but we had been very happy with the way she had trained on,” Forsman said.

“Hairi has ridden her a treat again. I said to him when I legged him up to ride her just like he did the start before and he’s done that.”

Marzuki jumped Crafty Jess out to a handy spot behind the pace and sat quietly until the top of the straight before asking the daughter of Mastercraftsman for a serious effort.

Shellez Ace was in front 200 metres out, but Crafty Jess finished resolutely to get the better of her close to the post and earn a short neck decision.

“She travelled well behind them and she kept fighting,” Marzuki said. “She’s a small horse with a big heart.”

Apprenticed to Stephen Marsh, Marzuki came to New Zealand to further his career after one win in his homeland. He opened his account here in October when successful aboard stable runner Thee Auld Floozie, also at Rotorua.

Crafty Jess, who is out of the Group Three winner Dancing Jess, has also made an excellent start to her career with two wins and seven placings from her nine starts.