Leading trainer Simon Dunderdale in collaboration with the Buffalo Stable are a big chance of leading in yet another feature winner with a strong two-pronged attack in the RM100,000 1800m Merdeka Cup (Race 9) at the Selangor Turf Club this Sunday.
Recent 4YO Selangor Mile winner AQUITAINE is currently in career-best form making rapid progress since breaking his maiden tag just over four months ago. With four wins and four placings from nine starts, AQUITAINE has established himself as a rising star on the local scene. Not only was his Selangor Mile victory impressive but his follow up win in a strong Supreme A contest here two weeks ago suggests he will be a force to be reckoned with in future group contests. Possessing that quick burst of closing speed in his last two wins, the gelding will no doubt handle the distance rise and will once again take a power of beating again.
Stable mate ANJOU CROWN achieved a rare feat by breaking its maiden tag in a Class 3 event on July 5 and the high-priced son of Exceed And Excel has held solid form since. Following on with a Class 2 victory six days later, ANJOU CROWN was specked at good odds in the Selangor Mile and reeled off a fast final sectional to finish 3rd, beaten 0.75L. The gelding then produced a similar finish when placed 4th in the Supreme A contest won by AQUITAINE. The 1800m trip shouldn’t pose a problem for both five-year-olds and a form reversal would not surprise as very little separates the pair on potential and ability alone.
Six-year-old gelding, OMNIARCH is capable of springing a surprise despite only scoring once since his G1 Coronation Cup victory in November last year. The Richard Lines-trained performer is unbeaten in two starts over 1800m but is not blessed with early speed and usually relies on a fast tempo to produce a big finish. The ultra-consistent KOONDAKAARA came close to causing a minor upset when falling short by 0.75 lengths behind AQUITAINE last start. Despite not winning beyond 1300m, he does give the impression he can handle the longer journey. BANKER’S HONOR is bred to stay and was a 2000m here back in April. The gelding hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck recently having to contend with a wide draw in the Selangor Mile before racing deep without cover in the Supreme A contest last start. He’s only a moderate beginner but with luck in running, he can provide the value.
MERDEKA CUP SELECTIONS: (5) ANJOU CROWN (2) AQUITAINE (1) OMNIARCH (6) KOONDAKAARA
The locally unbeaten five-year-old FORTUNE RISING will be tough to beat despite drawing the outside barrier in 1100m Supreme A contest (Race 7). Aiming for his fifth successive victory, he will be coming off two impressive performances this campaign, culminating with his 1.25L victory in the 4YO Trinity Selangor on July 26. FORTUNE RISING does possess the early speed to overcome the draw and like his previous four runs in the country, he will go around as the short-priced favorite. Former Hong Kong galloper, SOON SOON has not finished far away in three Malaysian starts and should be primed for a forward showing come Sunday.
Progressive performers, BANKER’S FIRST and CHOICE IS MINE should dominate the market and are set to clash in the 1400m Supreme A (Race 8). BANKER’S FIRST has already established himself locally with a record of three wins and two seconds from five starts and is coming off a 3L Class 1 victory over 1200m a month ago. The gelding has won three from six over the 1400m trip and will take beating with the top weight of 59kg. CHOICE IS MINE picked off a couple of victories in Max Two Stakes races before failing as favorite in the Selangor Mile on July 26. Despite finishing 7th, the gelding finished 3L from the winner and can easily bounce back on the freshen up. Jockey Bernardo Pinheiro has combined with trainer Lawson Moy successfully in the past with the pair striking at 25% over the past twelve-month period.
Promising three-year-old MEGA FIRST is overdue for a win and receives a plum opportunity to bounce back in the 1700m Combined Class 3/4 contest (Race 10). The Irish bred galloper has been racing competitively at Class 3 level in recent weeks and of course was placed in the Listed 3YO Mile Championship in July. MEGA FIRST has started favorite at his past three starts since winning a Class 4 contest on June 21 so he may be testing the patience of his followers. However. like jockey B Pinheiro, it may pay to stick with the gelding as he attempts to break through in the grade. It was hard to gauge the first-up run of former Australian gelding COME ON BANKER’S in a Class 3 event here on August 2. Featuring in the vet’s report after sustaining a cut on the right hind leg, the five-year-old failed to feature over the sprint trip. However the distance rise will suit since he was a 1500m maiden winner in country Queensland (Rockhampton) earlier this year and has placed up to 1600m previously so a vast improvement is expected.
