TOP CONTENDERS SET FOR CLOSE SELANGOR GOLD CUP BATTLE
The RM300,000 Group 1 Hygain Horse City Selangor Gold Cup (1600m), the second leg of the Triple Crown Series, has attracted a high-class field of 13 runners at Selangor Turf Club this Sunday afternoon. With several proven Group performers lining up alongside a number of progressive gallopers, the mile feature promises to be one of the most competitive races on the card.
PLATINUM EMPEROR produced a strong late effort to finish fourth in the Group 1 Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) in March and has since maintained excellent form, collecting two wins and two placings from his next four starts. As the highest-rated runner under Set Weights conditions, he appears ideally placed to break through for his first Group 1 victory in Malaysia. The step back into elite company should hold no fears given the consistency he has shown throughout the season.
BANKER’S FIRST is still relatively lightly raced in Malaysia but has already built an impressive local record with five wins from seven starts. He heads into this feature on the back of a hat-trick and continues to progress with each appearance. A son of So You Think, he should have no trouble handling the step up to 1600m, making him one of the more interesting runners in the field. This will be his toughest local test to date, but his upward profile suggests there could still be further improvement to come.
The reigning Tunku Gold Cup winner FORTUNE TREE has been ultra-consistent and was last seen demolishing a Class 1 field by five lengths. However, he remains winless from four attempts over 1600m, despite finishing in the placings on three occasions, and his stamina over the mile will again come under scrutiny this weekend. His class is not in doubt, but the final stages could prove decisive.
BANKER’S BOSS claimed the Three-Year-Old Championship (1600m) in July, but this represents a significant step up in class. He will have to overcome a wide draw while taking on a number of seasoned, top-class older rivals.
AQUITAINE, BANKER’S HONOR, BANKER’S KINGDOM and ANJOU CROWN are closely matched on collateral form, with just 1.5 lengths separating the quartet when they met in the RM1 million Selangor Mile in July. With some changes at the weights this time, it would be no surprise to see the finishing order reversed.
Group 1 winner OMNIARCH had shown signs of recapturing his early brilliance with three encouraging performances between May and July, but disappointed in his last two starts after being slow away on both occasions. If he can rediscover his best form, he could prove a value chance in this Group 1 feature.
Formerly known as BRAVEHEARTS in Hong Kong, THIS TIME MY TIME managed only seventh on his Malaysian debut a fortnight ago and was found to be lame after the race. However, the step up in distance should be more to his liking, and he could add an element of intrigue to this week’s feature if he has fully recovered from that setback.
ERUPTION and HEAVENLY WARRIOR have both been in excellent form, but this week’s assignment may prove a little tougher. Their relatively low ratings leave them poorly treated at the weights, making their task considerably harder against several higher-rated rivals.
With proven Group 1 quality, progressive newcomers and several closely matched contenders in the line-up, the Selangor Gold Cup shapes as an intriguing contest. PLATINUM EMPEROR may hold a slight advantage under the Set Weights conditions, but there appears to be very little separating a number of his main rivals.
