After catching the eye at the July 14 trial session, SECRET PHANTOM came out and nearly pulled off a minor upset five days later in a 1700m Supreme C event won by the in-form Flying Nemo. Powering home from a rearward position, the five-year-old Irish bred fell short by 0.5 lengths and looks poised to go one better in the 1600m Combined Class 3 and 4 contest (Race 4). His first couple of runs in the country were below par, but the gelding has shown rapid improvement in the past month and the Nick Selvan stable is regaining form after posting a treble at the Selangor Mile Meeting last Sunday. SCHNEIDER has been racing consistently in this distance range with four wins at 1500m and could easily bounce back from the good draw (Barrier 4). The booking of Bernardo Pinheiro on LUCKY TO WIN is a plus also as the gelding will be primed three starts into its current campaign and is back in form judging by his fast-finishing 2nd over the mile three weeks ago.
RACE 4: (2) SECRET PHANTOM (4) SCHNEIDER (7) LUCKY TO WIN (11) WINNING MONEY
The 1200m Special Maiden (Race 5) is an interesting contest as only two runners in the 10-horse lineup have had local race experience. KING ODDS and BANKER’S ANGEL have had three and two Malaysian starts respectively and are expected to feature while seven of the remaining runners will be making their race track debuts. KING ODDS does look the pick on exposed form after finishing runner-up in a Class 4 event and is well served by the 4kg claim for apprentice jockey WH Lim. IPOH STAR comes across with respectable New Zealand form and hasn’t been overly taxed in a couple of recent trials. The gelding comes from a stable synonymous for producing instant success with new acquisitions. From the trials, the horses to watch are CAPET REGENT from the leading Simon Dunderdale camp while the Richard Lines-prepared MASTER TREASURE showed he will eventually make the grade with race experience.
RACE 5: (2) KING ODDS (1) IPOH STAR (6) CAPET REGENT (7) MASTER TREASURE
The Banker’s Stable may have not enjoyed the best of luck with their five-pronged attack on the RM1,000,000 Selangor Mile last weekend but they could bounce back with promising six-year-old BANKER’S FIRST this Sunday at the Selangor Turf Club. Engaged in the 1200m Class 1 contest (Race 7), BANKER’S FIRST, with two wins and two seconds from four Malaysian starts, looks ideally placed to atone for his narrow defeat in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy on June 14, finishing a head behind talented sprinter Platinum Emperor. VINCENT’S STAR delivered its first victory for the Wayne Lim yard over 1100m on July 5, defeating FILIAL DRAGON and both are worthy contenders for trifecta spots. FILIAL DRAGON hasn’t won since taking out the G1 Ipoh Gold Vase last year and will be aiming to defend that title later in the month.
RACE 7: (3) BANKER’S FIRST (1) VINCENT’S STAR (6) FILIAL DRAGON (7) BANKER’SSWEETHEART
Four-year-old YES BOSS YES has furnished into a talented performer and is on track for the winning hat trick in the 1100m Class 3 (Race 8). Following his memorable Restricted Maiden victory back in March, the Jason Ong-trained gelding appeared flat when finishing unplaced at his two starts. However, he has recaptured top form with successive victories last month and should prove hard to beat from the good draw. NIMBUS STAR received plenty of market support when posting his second Malaysian win last start for the Richard Lim stable and looks a chance on the upgrade. The ultra-consistent DEFEATER was finally rewarded with an overdue win over 1200m on June 28 and should be prominent throughout from pole position. Local punters got it spot on when BANKER’S BABY was well backed to start favorite before duly saluting in an 1100m Class 3 contest on July 11. The five-year-old mare is unbeaten in two runs at the track and distance, and will no doubt attract market support again despite the 58kg impost.
RACE 8: (4) YES BOSS YES (1) NIMBUS STAR (3) DEFEATER (2) BANKER’S BABY
