Leading owners for the Malaysian racing season last year, the Pacific Stable started off the 2026 season with one winner last Saturday in the form of eight-year-old mare Pacific Angel. For the Sunday program this weekend they will be represented by a couple of genuine contenders in the 1600m Batu Caves Cultural Landmark Stakes (Race 3) as PACIFIC STAR and PACIFIC SKY are set for a rematch. Finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in a 1500m Class 4 contest won by Banker’s Victory on December 21, they are expected to feature strongly carrying similar weights to their last meeting. PACIFIC STAR is the more experienced campaigner of the pair and was a former Class 3 performer while PACIFIC SKY is two years younger but looks a progressive type after successive wins towards the end of last year. NAVY SEALS can mix his form but his run in the recent G1 Piala Emas Sultan Selangor from the wide barrier could not be ignored and must be given claims on the distance drop.
GURU FIGHT can defy the class rise in the 1600m Putrajaya Modern City Stakes (Race 4). The four-year-old displayed his true potential when stepping up from 1275m to 1700m and breaking his maiden tag in a Class 5 contest, scoring by 3.75 lengths. That run followed a string of minor placings and the Simon Dunderdale trained gelding looked to be in his comfort zone over the middle-distance last start. A repeat performance would not surprise.
FORTUNE TREE is building a good record in the country and will be searching for back-to-back wins in the 1500m Klang Valley Metropolitan Stakes (Race 5). With four wins from seven starts, the talented four-year-old is coming off a decisive victory in the 1400m Sungei Besi Auto World Cup three weeks ago and has drawn well with jockey R Shafiq to retain the mount. LATIN LEGEND has only scored twice in eleven Malaysian starts but has come desperately close with neck defeats in three other runs, including the G1 Perak Coronation Cup in November. The Irish bred grey finished just outside the placings in the G1 Piala Emas and will get his chance to break the six-month winning drought. SACRED BUDDY finished unplaced when starting favourite in the race won by FORTUNE TREE and is a possibility of reversing the result.
STRONG DRAGON may be testing the patience of his followers after his two recent defeats but the promising three-year-old will have an opportunity to bounce back in the 1200m Selangor Golden Coast Stakes (Race 7). Blessed with a sharp turn of speed the Ooi Chin Chin trained gelding has won twice and finished runner up from five starts locally but will be facing a galloper in peak form with a weight advantage. The Johnny Lim trained BANKER’S EIGHTYONE chalked up the winning hat trick on the class upgrade when resuming here on December 20, defeating subsequent winner Pacific Angel. The former Australian galloper will carry 6.5kg less after the G Farhan apprentice claim and will take a power of beating. TAU KEH SOH can never be dismissed back in Class 4 grade and appears well weighted with the 54.5kg for apprentice M Zulhilmi.
Former Australian galloper KOONDAKAARA can strike back with a victory in the 1200m Selangor Nature Discovery Stakes (Race 9). The four-year-old carried the famous Giovanni Stable colours to victory on local debut when leading throughout in a 1020m Open Maiden on November 22 defeating subsequent winner EASTERN BARRACKS. The Jason Ong runner lost no admirers after closing off well to finish a neck behind another promising type in Tycoon Boss over 1275m last start. SMART CAT won an Open Novice event in early November defeating PANTONG by a neck and has maintained solid form since. SMART CAT does draw a fraction wide but can feature with luck in running while PANTONG finished 3rd in that same race won by Tycoon Boss on December 14 and is yet to miss a place (1 win) in four Malaysian starts.
