Seven-year-old TANGESH is attracting the title of perennial bridesmaid at the moment after finishing runner up at his past five outings but is a chance of breaking through in the 1275m Rebound Stakes (Race 1). A two-time winner at the track/distance, he is a fast beginner who will take catching if he finds the front in the opening race at Selangor Turf Club on Saturday. Another fast beginner is BIG MAX, a beaten favourite in his past two starts and like TANGESH, will be looking to break the twelve-month winning drought.
The Simon Dunderdale stable, fresh from the G1 Perak Derby victory with Guru fight last week, will be represented with several chances over the two days of racing and FRIEND OF HONOR can deliver on the downgrade in the 1275m Class 5A (Race 2). The five-year-old performed well finishing 2nd on two occasions from three runs at Class 4 level since breaking the maiden tag on January 24. SUMMER WIND is a proven performer in this grade but has not won since January last year. The nine-year-old is a fast beginner and is drawn to figure prominently. PRINCE LONHRO is a recent winner and appears well weighted.
The Banker’s Stable are currently the leading owners this season with 19 winners and will be well represented with a couple of genuine chances in the 1020m Class 4B (Race 5). Four-year-old mare BANKER’S BABY is working up to a win following four runs in the country and her last start 3rd behind the inform Cheval Pegasus suggests the hoof is on the till. Stable mate BANKER’S RISING defeated subsequent winner Yes Boss Yes in a Restricted Maiden on February 28 and will be looking to maintain that unbeaten local record. The three-year-old has since won a trial by 12 lengths last Tuesday week and will be one of the popular elects come race time. It took IRONSTORM twenty starts to finally break through which he did in a Class 5 contest on February 8 prior to buttering up on the upgrade over the 1020m a month later. He remains in the same grade and is a chance to chalk up the hat trick.
Four-year-old galloper NAVARRE will be looking to bounce back for the Dunderdale camp in the 1300m Max Two Stakes (Race 9). Scoring by 4.75L on his local debut, the former Australian was far from disgraced finishing runner up in this class three weeks ago and is likely to take up a forward roll in Saturday’s contest. TO REMEMBER delivered a neck victory on his Malaysian debut however, he goes up 4.5kg from the win and will have to overcome the wide gate. He looks a speedy type also capable of going back-to-back. BANKER’S SECRET has performed well against the high graders since a Class 4 win back in January and will appreciate the class drop.
The 1400m iRace Trophy (Race 10) has attracted some quality Class 3 gallopers with in-form mare BANKER’S BEATIFUL heading the weights. The four-year-old sprinted well to chalk up her third win from seven starts in the country and apprentice G Farhan has been aboard the mare in those three wins from five rides. IRISH GOODBYE appears to be the distance specialist with three wins from three starts over 1400m and will be looking to improve on recent outings against the higher graded opposition. The Brazilian bred has won four from eight locally and will appreciate the drop in journey. KIM POWER has finished runner up at his past two starts behind Tunku Gold Cup aspirants Pacific Energy and Duma respectively, reeling off fast closing sectionals each time. The five-year-old could provide the value at good odds. GRAPHETJET EXPRESS has never missed a place in three runs when produced second up and looks a chance at good odds for trainer HY Cheng and visiting Australian jockey Liam Riordan.
