Five-year-old ZED OR ALIVE has only scored once in 23 starts but is a chance to break his Malaysian duck in the 1700m Pasir Gudang Kite Museum Stakes (Race 2). With minor placings behind the likes of higher rated performers such as Banker’s Honor and Guru Fight in this distance range recently, the gelding could be a value selection on the six-day backup. FAMILY DELIGHT will be fourth up and appears better suited on the distance rise. Despite scoring only once in nineteen local starts, the former Macau galloper will break the 14-month winning drought very soon. BANKER’S CUTE, from the inform BT Lim stable, also steps out to a more favorable journey and is also coming off the six-day backup, third run in the country. HENNU STALL finally broke through for an overdue win and looks a chance in the slightly harder lineup.
EASTERN BARRACKS put the writing on the wall with his fast finishing second behind handy mare, Banker’s Beautiful two runs ago and franked that form with a comeback victory in a 1400m Class 4B here three weeks ago. Both of his wins have been recorded over 1400m but he has placed over the mile previously and is a chance of going back-to-back in the Kedah Paddy Museum Stakes (Race 3). BANKER’S SUPER is a mile winner in Australia and is on target for a forward showing third up in Malaysia. STRONG WHITE has the potential to rise through the grades but his waywardness has cost him dearly in the past. The four-year-old grey still displayed those traits when resuming here last Sunday, closing off with a fast final sectional to finish runner up over 2000m and gains a big advantage on the minimum.
PLATINUM EMPEROR continues to race well with the big weights and is a chance to deliver a return victory in the 1400m Supreme A contest (Race 4). The six-year-old reeled off the fastest final sectional when closing off to finish fourth in the 1200m G1 Tunku Gold Cup on March 29, beaten 1.75L. With a local record of 4 wins from 8 starts, the former Macau galloper strikes a winnable race with Benny Woodworth to retain the mount. Stable mates BANKER’S BEAUTIFUL and BANKER’S SMILE have both risen through the grades and are facing their toughest assignments since arriving from Australia. However, both runners cannot be discounted on the minimum weights and are capable of winning. ANTIPODEAN may not be the dominant force he was a couple of years ago but his excellent record over the 1400m trip keeps him under notice. With six wins from seven starts at the distance, the 5yo was never a threat from a wide draw in the G1 Tunku Gold Cup and is expected to improve against a slightly weaker lineup come Saturday’
Despite his failure in the G1 Tunku Gold Cup last start, three-year-old MEGA ACE will be seeking immediate redemption in the 1020m Class 3 contest (Race 7). The gelding yielded after racing on speed in the group feature when casting a plate during the run. His greatest asset is his early pace and if he finds the lead, he will be hard to run down. BANKER’S EMPEROR resumed with a second over 1200m three weeks ago and his excellent second up record (3:3-0-0) cannot be ignored either. FRIGHT and WITNESSIMPACT returned to winning form in Ipoh last month and are proven in Class 3 company.
