By Mark Lydeamore
Sunday’s highlight will be the running of the time honoured Group 1 Perak Gold Vase and with the straight course out of action permanently due to a recent land sale, the vase will be contested over the 1100m trip on the short course for the first time. The 2025 edition may not be as strong as previous years however, a strong contingent from Selangor has ensured that the event does contain some classy performers.
SUPER SALUTE, a G2 and G3 winner originally from Singapore heads the weights while the country’s most progressive performer in recent months, FILIAL DRAGON appear to be the main contenders.
SUPER SALUTE has the advantage with two runs on the Ipoh circuit, including a 1300m win with the benefit of a 4kg apprentice claim back in April. The Penang Farewell Trophy winner has maintained good form since and does possess the class factor hence he will be the testing material under the set weights conditions.
FILIAL DRAGON has a golden opportunity to win the Group 1 contest and his recent displays suggest he is capable of going four in a row despite his first visit to Ipoh. The five-year-old is in career best form since making his Malaysian debut with a rating of 64 and four months later, has risen to 83 points on the CRS with four wins from ten local starts. Jockey Troy See has the perfect record from two mounts aboard the gelding and will be a major player.
WITNESSIMPACT has finished outside the placings in two races won by FILIAL DRAGON this preparation but has changed stables recently and improvement is expected. MAN OF ACTION is building a handy resume with three wins from five Malaysian starts and appears best of the local chances with the 54kg.
On the odd occasion a horse imported from overseas arrives in the country as a maiden performer but is capable of breaking its maiden status against Class 4 opposition and WILSING may fit into that category in the 1100m Class 4 contest (Race 8). Placed on its local debut as an odds-on favourite here on June 14, the former New Zealander was parked outside the leader throughout in finishing 3rd, a neck behind the winner. The booking of KC Wong should enhance its chances and looks on track to break the maiden tag on Sunday.
The Kevin Coetzee trained two-year-old O THRYLOS will get his chance to break through in the 1100m Restricted Maiden (Race 10). The juvenile covered extra ground when debuting here two weeks ago and had a tendency to hang inwards when trying to chase down the eventual winner, Authority. O THRYLOS may still be green but should gain plenty of benefit from his debut performance.
SPEEDY SAMURAI will find this a much easier assignment compared to his debut run when finishing unplaced in the 1200m 3YO Sprint Championship in KL on June 1. The three-year-old has since trialed well and is also capable of breaking through at his second race start.
