The 1400m Mitavite Asia Cup (Race 8) will headline the eleven-race program at the Selangor Turf Club this Saturday commencing at 1.00pm.
PLATINUM EMPEROR (1), which only started twice for his initial Malaysian campaign, returns from a four-month break and enters the feature with the highest rating. The former Macau galloper created an immediate first impression here with a devastating victory in the Wilyah Silver Bowl back in February. It was his first run for eleven months and was freshened up prior to his third placing in the G1 Tunku Gold Cup six weeks later.
Prepared by Ricky Choi, PLATINUM EMPEROR (1) should maintain his good first up record and will be a major player in Saturday’s feature.
Another interesting runner is CAVALRY (3), first up since his unplaced effort in the G1 Singapore Gold Cup last year and debuts for the Jason Ong stable. CAVALRY (3) is a classy type which competed at Singapore’s top level for most of his ten runs in the Lion City, including a second placing in the 2023 G1 Raffles Cup. Coming off a couple of fair trials at Selangor, he is a definite watch for his Malaysian debut. JANUARY (5) finally delivered a victory for his followers in a Class 3 contest over 1400m here on June 22 defeating subsequent winner, Latin Legend. Looks a chance of going back-to-back despite the wide draw while LIM’S CRAFT (12) travelled strongly at the trials on Tuesday and looks well placed on the light weight.
Mitavite Asia Cup Selections: (3) Cavalry (1) Platinum Emperor (5) January (12) Lim’s Craft
STRONG DRAGON is only a two-year-old but based on his Restricted Maiden win here on June 15, he appears capable of beating his more seasoned opponents in the 1200m Class 4B contest (Race 4). Coming with a late flourish from a clear last at the 400m mark in the nine-horse lineup, STRONG DRAGON produced one of the best performances for a debutant ever seen in recent months and his quick turn of high speed will place him in good stead for a forward showing come Saturday.
V’INVINCIBLE, FATAL ATTRACTION and INTREPID finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively behind the inform Trees Of Valinor in a 1400m Class 4 last month and are set for the rematch in the 1600m Class 4A contest (Race 9).
V’INVINCIBLE does possess the more consistent form of the trio as he steps up to the mile for the first time and finished on gamely when 3rd (beaten 2L) to Fortune Wheel here a fortnight ago. The six-year-old is coming off four successive placings and is well and truly overdue for another local win.
FATAL ATTRACTION ran 7th in that same race but is expected to improve while INTREPID has proven herself with a previous win over the journey but can be unreliable sometimes at barrier rise and tends to give away big starts.
