Local trainer, Kevin Coetzee will have a strong hand in the high grade 1200m Cosmo C contest (Race 3) this Saturday with four of the six runners representing the stable.
SALAAM NAMASTEY and MAN OF ACTION are both coming off last start wins in this company and are likely to head the markets in the small lineup. SALAAM NAMASTEY has developed into a handy type posting three wins from his last four starts and overcame an awkward jump to win here on May 24. MAN OF ACTION is coming off a seven-week break but normally races well when freshened. The five-year-old displayed a quick turn of foot when scoring over 1400m from the wide gate on April 26 and a repeat performance would not surprise. Promising three-year-old PEAKY BLINDER has closed off well from moderate beginnings at his past two outings and is due to strike back.
BOSS NINE NINE and TALKINGTALKINGGURU have similar racing patterns and both will be aiming for the winning hat trick in the 1300m Class 5A contest (Race 2).
Arriving from Singapore with the solitary win from 25 starts, BOSS NINE NINE has rapidly improved since joining the stables of Stephen Cook, chalking up two wins from four Malaysian starts. The five-year-old goes up 3.5kg and is coming off a seven week break. Not many horses can come from rearward positions and win at Penang but TALKINGTALKINGGURU did exactly that at the last meeting a fortnight ago. The four-year-old does possess a quick turn of foot and is also building a handy record of three wins from eight runs locally. Jockey S Saddam has gone two from two astride the gelding and the combination will be hard to beat again come Saturday.
Another Coetzee runner with a winning chance is FAST AND FEARLESS engaged in the 1100m Class 5A contest (Race 5). The eight-year-old will appreciate the class drop following minor placings at Cosmo C level in recent weeks and will be looking to break through for his current stable. A couple of veterans in MODRIC, who won a Class 5 two starts ago and TERMS OF REFERENCE have wound the clock back with improved performances recently remaining competitive at this level. Both gallopers have trifecta chances along with GURNEY DRIVE which is a fast beginner drawn the outside gate while BALIN will be attempting to break the 560-day winning drought.
Selangor trainer, Simon Dunderdale seldom enters horses for Ipoh but has one galloper which is due to bounce back in the 1400m Class 4A (Race 6). ONG MARI displayed loads of potential breaking the maiden tag in a Class 4 race at his second start on January 4 prior to lowering the colours of smart three-year-old Duma in a Max Two Stakes a fortnight later. The five-year-old has failed to recapture that form in the higher grades since but back in Class 4, he may strike back at value odds. Former New Zealand galloper, WILSING is a five-start maiden resuming from a seven-month break. The gelding has been trialing well at the track and is one to watch on its Malaysian debut.
