The Malaysian racing industry has witnessed the rise and development of two gallopers which are both worthy of conveying the champion tag. Last year it was ANTIPODEAN who progressed through the grades rapidly posting nine wins from ten starts, including his first seven in succession. That impressive tally contained only the one Group One victory, the 1600m Selangor Gold Cup with his 2024 racing campaign culminating with a victory in the Listed Sports Toto Challenge Cup. It has been a challenging 2025 season for the five-year-old posting two wins this year, including his Trinity Cup success on August 31.
ANTIPODEAN continues to be competitive at this level and will be coming off an encouraging 4th in the Selangor Gold Cup a month ago won by his true nemesis in LUCKY MAGIC, a figure which has dominated the local circuit this season. Capping off with his first group success when winning the G1 Penang Gold Cup at the end of last year, LUCKY MAGIC has continued his dominance with victories in the 2000m G1 Perak Derby, the 1600m G1 Selangor Gold Cup with his biggest payday transpiring when taking out the inaugural million-ringgit 4YO Selangor Mile July 20.
The talented gallopers will head the weights in the RM 300,000 NZB Ready To Run Open Championship (Race 10) over 1400m and another enthralling clash is expected between these two leviathans of the Malaysian racing scene.
LUCKY MAGIC is the more versatile of the pair winning races from 1200m to 2000m while ANTIPODEAN is yet to win beyond the mile. However, ANTIPODEAN is unbeaten in five starts over the track and distance and a return to his favourite journey keeps him under notice.
The Frank Maynard pair, DUMA and TREES OF VALINOR performing well in the Listed feature 3YO series conducted earlier in the year. DUMA finished 2nd in the Sprint Championship while TREES OF VALINOR won the Mile Championship. Both gallopers appear well weighted with 55kg and 53kg respectively and are definite chances for the exotics.
RACE 10 SELECTIONS: (2) LUCKY MAGIC (1) ANTIPODEAN (10) TREES OF VALINOR (5) DUMA
Despite going down as an odds on favourite last start, the Simon Dunderdale-trained CAPETIAN is expected to bounce back in the 1200m NZB Ready To Run Progressive (Race 4). Coming off a third placing after leading in a Class 4 contest here three weeks ago, the gelding appears well placed racing back against his age group. Bernardo Pinheiro was aboard CAPETIAN for his debut win and the pair will be reacquainted for Sunday’s contest.
