There will be two maiden races conducted at the Selangor Turf Club’s race meeting this Saturday and two local trainers will be presenting a couple of stable debutants with impressive trial form in each division.
Trainer Ooi Chin Chin will be represented by four-year-old mare GOLD MEDAL MADAM in the 1200m Open Maiden (Race 5) and is coming off two trial wins recently. Blessed with early gate speed the daughter of Farnan only started twice in Australia for one placing when finishing runner up on debut back in February. Judging on its trial form, GOLD MEDAL MADAM is one watch for its Malaysian debut. Stable mate IPOH STAR has local experience after finishing 3rd in a 1200m Special Maiden here three weeks ago. The four-year-old closed off well after receiving a slight check midrace and arguably could have finished much closer. The former New Zealander raced five times in the Shaky Isles for one minor placing and despite the outside gate, will strip much fitter from his first up performance.
Leading Selangor trainer, Simon Dunderdale will go into the 1200m Restricted Maiden (Race 6) with a couple of genuine chances including newcomer NAVARRE REGENT which is coming off an impressive trial win last month. The Super Seth three-year-old appeared very sharp at the July 21 session winning the trial by three lengths which superseded its previous trial when finishing runner up behind recent winner IMAGINATE, beaten two lengths. NAVARRE REGENT has drawn the outside gate but if he can replicate his trial form to race day, he could be hard to beat on debut. Stable mate CAPET REGENT, which actually finished three lengths behind NAVARRE REGENT in that July trial, should benefit from his first up run in the 1200m Special Maiden won by King Odds on August 2. Finishing 5th, 11.5L behind the winner, CAPET REGENT can derive plenty of benefit from that experience and inform jockey Bernardo Pinheiro will stick with the New Zealand bred gelding.
Promising five-year-old galloper ELITE PRINCE could not have been more impressive on his race track return here a fortnight ago when he dominated a 1300m Class 2 contest by leading throughout to score by 3.25L. The win may have been enhanced considering the Course E was suiting the front markers and on speed gallopers that day. However, ELITE PRINCE has already proven himself with a record of four wins from eight starts despite how the track is playing and is versatile in all forms of going as well. The gelding looks the one to beat in the 1100m Class 2 contest (Race 7) despite the distance drop and Selangor Mile winning jockey Jimmy Wong retains the mount. Five-year-old DUMA returns from a couple of unplaced efforts over the mile and is better placed back to the 1100m trip. A horse possessing a high dose of closing speed, the gelding’s best recent performance was when he finished 4th in the 1200m 4YO Sprint Championship on June 28 and with Pinheiro astride, he may provide the value.
Four-year-old galloper IMAGINATE never appeared to be in danger when breaking through in a 1200m Max Two Stakes contest on August 9 and is on track to go back-to-back in Race 9. The gelding had no luck when trapped wide on his Malaysian debut over 1150m on Track Two but quickly made amends after leading throughout over 1200m. The ‘E’ Course did suit the leaders that day but nothing could be taken away from the son of Written Tycoon which cruised to a 2.75L victory. The only query is the distance rise to 1400m for the first time but IMAGINATE should utilize his early pace and charge forward from barrier eight. BANKER’S EMPIRE was a Class 3 winner at this track and distance on July 11 and will be well served from pole position. MEROVINGIAN will appreciate the class drop also after being outclassed in the 3YO Mile Championship last start and is a two-time winner at the 1400m trip.
