It has been a steady start the Banker’s Stable following the first month of the 2026 season with five winners from multiple runners and four-time winner BANKER’S EIGHTYONE is a chance to add to the tally in the 1275m Class 4B contest (Race 3). Posting four wins from twelve starts in Malaysia, the five-year-old was a fraction unlucky when finishing 3rd over 1200m here a fortnight ago. The booking of jockey Nuqman Faris can be viewed as a positive also with the senior hoop riding BANKER’S EIGHTYONE to three successive victories towards the end of last year. CHEVAL PEGASUS and WAIT U KNOW have both scored previously over the track and trip and are proven at Class 4 level.
Former Australian galloper QI FU FORTUNE trialed very well behind talented sprinter NOAH KHAN here a month ago and is one to watch when he resumes for trainer HY Cheng in the 1275m Class 4A (Race 5). Starting twice in Australia for one win, the four-year-old has not raced for over twelve months but appears a likely type based on trial form. His main rival will be BANKER’S GLORY coming off a fast-finishing second behind the smart STRONG DRAGON and is a chance despite the wide draw while TAU KEH SOH will strike back soon in this grade.
Another galloper who performed well at the January 27 trial session was three-year-old SUPERB WINNER, who resumes in the 1200m Open Maiden (Race 6). Winning his trial by 20 lengths on the sand, the juvenile may be looking forward to a lucrative campaign as he steps out for the first time since making his debut on July 27 last year. The race should provide a reliable form line considering he was beaten a length into 3rd placing behind Singha Bay, a progressive type currently strutting his wares against Class 3 company. Another interesting runner debuting for the Buffalo Stable is NAVARRE, trained by Simon Dunderdale which has also performed well at the trials recently. With strong provincial Victorian form to his credit (6 placings from 12 starts), the Written Tycoon four-year-old is a definite proposition first up since April.
PACIFIC ENERGY and SECRET WONDER filled the quinella in a 1200m Class 3 contest three weeks ago and the pair will clash again in Race 7 this Saturday. PACIFIC ENERGY has progressed nicely following two wins from six starts locally and form pole position should receive all the favours in the run. SECRET WONDER carved out a fast final section to finish only a neck behind after sprinting from midfield and returned to the form he displayed when scoring at his first two Malaysian starts last season. BANKER’S VICTORY has performed well in three local runs, including a Class 4 victory in December and is coming off a 3rd placing in a strong Supreme B contest won by Latin Legend here on January 11.
Unfortunately for those punters which backed FORTUNE WHEEL here three weeks ago, they were left without a collect but it may pay to stick with the seven-year-old in the 1400m Class 4A (Race 10). Pulling up with a respiratory issue, FORTUNE WHEEL finished out of the placings but his trial win over group winner Lucky Magic during the week places him in good stead for a winning return. FLYING NEMO is close to breaking his Malaysian duck and is perfectly suited dropping back to Class 4 grade while SMART CAT looks a progressive type and is coming off an impressive 1200m Open Novice win here four weeks ago.
