Sweet Love hands Khor 1st feature win in Ipoh
Ipoh trainer Khor Peng Hwa has won his first trophy in Malaysia after Sweet Love's tenacious win in the RM26,000 (S$7,900) Mitavite Asia Cup 2025 (1,100m) in Ipoh on June 8.
For good measure, Khor also pulled off his first training double in Malaysia when Crazy Love ($21) scored in the penultimate Sage Hill Northwest Stake (1,200m).
More popularly known as Ah Lek, the Malaysian handler - who received his trainer's licence only in April 2025 - opened his account when King Ravana saluted in Ipoh on May 24.
One week later on May 31, Khor sent his first and only runner, Golden Peach, to the final meeting held at Penang Turf Club.
Golden Peach finished last in a Class 4A race (1,400m) then, but Khor quickly made his way back to the winner's circle on June 8.
However, he did not expect the photo finish to be in his favour in Ipoh's feature race.
Sweet Love, a seven-year-old son of Outreach, assumed his usual front runner's role under Hafis Saari in the Cosmo C event and led for most of the way, until the Peter Lee-trained Wilamara (Jackie Chuah) closed in strongly on his inside past the 200m.
The four-year-old debutant lunged where it mattered. For a moment, it looked to be Wilamara's winning debut in Malaysia, but the photo finish proved otherwise.
It was two-time winner Sweet Love ($22) who doggedly held off Wilamara by a nose in the end. Gold Eighty-Three (Syafifie Zailuddin) finished third.
Khor's two other runners, Black Thorn (Salee Saad) and King Ravana (Lim Shung Uai), ran unplaced in eighth and 10th respectively.
He was relieved the Lim Chun How-owned gelding won, but Khor admitted he thought Sweet Love had lost because the runner-up looked like he was gaining momentum on the leader.
"He (Sweet Love) looked like he was beaten, but I'm very lucky he won by a nose," said Khor.
"I thought he lost because the horse on the inside came from behind, and looked like he was stronger in the finish.
"The ground is good, and the barrier (1) is good for him today. There's only one way to ride this horse, and that's to go in front. I told the jockey to sit up there and don't pressure him.
"We'll take one step at a time with him and maybe see if he can back up next week."
Riden by Harmeet Singh Gill, Crazy Love also won from barrier to box in the Class 5A contest, albeit he was clearly a length ahead of the second-placed Modric at the finishing post.
Khor said the drop in class helped the Outreach five-year-old at his second win.
"He was in a Cosmo C race last time (May 24). He's down in class today, so it was easier for him.
"I'm very happy with my double today."
sharonzhang@sph.com.sg
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Sweet Love hands Khor 1st feature win in Ipoh
Ipoh trainer Khor Peng Hwa has won his first trophy in Malaysia after Sweet Love's tenacious win in the RM26,000 (S$7,900) Mitavite Asia Cup 2025 (1,100m) in Ipoh on June 8. For good measure, Khor also pulled off his first training double in Malaysia when Crazy Love ($21) scored in the penultimate Sage Hill Northwest Stake (1,200m). More popularly known as Ah Lek, the Malaysian handler - who received his trainer's licence only in April 2025 - opened his account when King Ravana saluted in Ipoh on May 24. One week later on May 31, Khor sent his first and only runner, Golden Peach, to the final meeting held at Penang Turf Club. Golden Peach finished last in a Class 4A race (1,400m) then, but Khor quickly made his way back to the winner's circle on June 8. However, he did not expect the photo finish to be in his favour in Ipoh's feature race. Sweet Love, a seven-year-old son of Outreach, assumed his usual front runner's role under Hafis Saari in the Cosmo C event and led for most of the way, until the Peter Lee-trained Wilamara (Jackie Chuah) closed in strongly on his inside past the 200m. The four-year-old debutant lunged where it mattered. For a moment, it looked to be Wilamara's winning debut in Malaysia, but the photo finish proved otherwise. It was two-time winner Sweet Love ($22) who doggedly held off Wilamara by a nose in the end. Gold Eighty-Three (Syafifie Zailuddin) finished third. Khor's two other runners, Black Thorn (Salee Saad) and King Ravana (Lim Shung Uai), ran unplaced in eighth and 10th respectively. He was relieved the Lim Chun How-owned gelding won, but Khor admitted he thought Sweet Love had lost because the runner-up looked like he was gaining momentum on the leader. "He (Sweet Love) looked like he was beaten, but I'm very lucky he won by a nose," said Khor. "I thought he lost because the horse on the inside came from behind, and looked like he was stronger in the finish. "The ground is good, and the barrier (1) is good for him today. There's only one way to ride this horse, and that's to go in front. I told the jockey to sit up there and don't pressure him. "We'll take one step at a time with him and maybe see if he can back up next week." Riden by Harmeet Singh Gill, Crazy Love also won from barrier to box in the Class 5A contest, albeit he was clearly a length ahead of the second-placed Modric at the finishing post. Khor said the drop in class helped the Outreach five-year-old at his second win. "He was in a Cosmo C race last time (May 24). He's down in class today, so it was easier for him. "I'm very happy with my double today." sharonzhang@
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