Last year’s premiership trainer, Jason Ong is yet to open his winning account from the first couple of meetings at the Selangor Turf Club for the 2026 racing year. However, it appears he may have a couple of genuine chances which spring up early on the eleven-race card this Saturday.
CHEVAL PEGASUS can bounce back to winning form on the downgrade in Race 1 (1150m Class 5A). This will be the four-year-old’s first appearance at Class 5 level, posting three wins since his local debut eleven months ago. Capturing a Restricted Maiden on his Malaysian debut, the gelding chalked up a further two wins against Class 4 opposition. IMPERIAL GENIE is travelling down a similar path as he is also making his Class 5 debut and was a winner twice in Class 4 company last year. The other down grader in this event is GOLDEN SENTIENCE but unlike the other couple, he has started numerous times in this grade for two wins.
Another Jason Ong runner with claims is OUTFIT in Race 2 (1150m Class 5A). A winner in this grade two starts back, the gelding began awkwardly when a beaten favourite here three weeks ago but can quickly atone on best form. Along with OUTFIT, FROM THE NAVY possesses the best record at Class 5 level and his third placing at this track and journey a fortnight ago suggests he is ready to win also. STAR EXPRESS was well supported when breaking a winning drought over 1300m last start and despite his better form over longer trips, the gelding may be an outside chance of scoring again.
MEGA CRUSADER finally came through for his followers with an easy Class 5 win over 1150m here on January 3 and is likely to repeat the dose in Race 5 (1275m Class 4A). The three-year-old dominated from the outset when leading throughout to record a resounding 3.75 length win from barrier eleven. The rise in class is the only query but that will be offset by a 6kg drop in the weights and he should be hard to beat again. THE STAR has won five from ten in Malaysia and will strip fitter following two runs this campaign. The seven-year-old draws wide but is a proven performer at this level and is a chance on the down grade. The horse to watch in this contest is SECTION EIGHTEEN, a former Australian galloper which has trialed well and resumes since winning a maiden at Gawler, SA in June last year. The stable of Ooi Chin Chin is in good form at the moment following a double at last Sunday’s meeting and SECTION EIGHTEEN will no doubt attract market support.
The 1300m Max Two Stakes (Race 7) looks to be a match between the top two in the weights. ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN and BANKER’S EMPRESS are the highest rated candidates and under the handicapping conditions will gain a big weight advantage compared to their lesser rated rivals. ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN has been contesting the high graded races recently and also competed in the G1 Piala Emas Sultan Selangor last month. This is massive drop in class and is a chance to break the Malaysian duck at start number seven in the country. However, BANKER’S EMPRESS created a big impression on his Malaysian debut with a fast finishing second in a Class 3 contest behind stable mate, Banker’s Beautiful over 1300m, beaten two lengths. Trainer Johnny Lim is currently enjoying regular success with the Banker’s Stable horses and BANKER’S EMPRESS has the potential to rise through the grades also.
Race 8 (1200m Class 3) has attracted some progressive types with the Banker’s Stable / Johnny Lim combination represented by two genuine chances. BANKER’S EMPEROR displayed his true class and tenacity with a fighting win over handy type Elite Prince in a Class 3 contest over 1275m, his second run in the country. The Snitzel gelding arrived from Australia with high credentials recording a couple of placings against Metropolitan company in Victoria as a three-year-old and appears on track of going back-to-back. Stable mate BANKER’S PRETTY, a three-time winner in Australia, has not disgraced in three Malaysian starts and is ready to win with inform jockey, CK Khaw in the saddle. HASTEN is arguably in career best form at the moment and could provide former premiership jockey Jose De Souza with a return to the winner’s enclosure following his recent comeback to the local riding ranks.
