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New Paper
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
The Wild Goal all set to score
Former Kranji trainers Jason Ong and Richard Lim may well have another two potential winners going on the barrier trials at Sungai Besi on June 4. The current runaway leader in the trainers' premiership with 43 winners, Ong sent out The Wild Goal to take the opener while Storm Titan took the third for Lim, who sits sixth on 15 after saddling a treble on June 1. Both impressed with their performances. The Wild Goal (Akmazani Mazuki), who beat Hypeman (Marc Lerner) by a length, would be remembered for breaking the minute mark for the 1,000m dash on grass. He stopped the clock at an impressive 59.82 seconds. Not to be outdone, Storm Titan (Uzair Sharudin), though unable to come under the minute mark, did catch the eye with a five-length romp. Here is how the scenes unfolded. In Trial No. 1, when the starter sent them off, the The Wild Goal scooted away and quickly put a length between himself and the chasing pack, led by the Simon Dunderdale-trained Hypeman, with the Sharee Hamilton-trained Sweet N Sour holding down third. Keeping up a strong gallop, The Wild Goal refused to be intimidated by Hypeman and when push came to shove, he dug in to win by a length. Formerly known as Lucky Goal when racing at Kranji where he won two races, The Wild Goal made himself known to Malaysian racing fans when winning a Class 4 (B) race over the 1,020m on March 23. It was an Ong Stable queue-up with Outfit dropping in for second, some 4½ lengths away. While the margin was impressive, The Wild Goal has yet to put together another victory. Indeed, the best the Shalaa four-year-old could do in four subsequent starts was a second-place finish behind Baby Twins on April 24. But with Ong's stable churning out winners like water from a tap, we could see The Wild One salute sooner rather than later. As for Storm Titan, that win was his third victory from as many barrier trials going back to May 14 when he won in a time of 1min 1.64sec. He was at it again on May 27, beating Captain Pegasus by half a length while clocking 1:00.82. And in that latest hit-out, the unraced Ace High three-year-old led from barrier to box, never allowing his rivals to get a look-in, stopping the clock at 1:00.68. Yes, Storm Titan is getting better with every outing and, when Lim does send him to the races, he is going to be a treat to watch. Then, and also from the morning of June 4, we had Big Business. Schooled by Lim Boon Thong, Big Business was another big winner - coasting in by a massive six lengths in Trial No. 2. Big Business - who was racing with blinkers - was never troubled. He cleared the chute easily and quickly got into stride. The others tried to eat into his lead but he never allowed them to get within swishing distance of his tail. He was unstoppable over the concluding stages and ran away from them to win in a time of 1:00.83 - easing up. Big Business was down to make his grand debut on June 7, but for some medical reason, he will not start in the Open Maiden sprint for which he was nominated. The Shalaa three-year-old was withdrawn on the advice of the club's veterinarians. Watch for the day Lim decides he ticks all the boxes to be sent to the races. He seems to be working towards a decent debut. In the last trial, which was run on sand, Kim Legend was all-conquering. Ridden by track rider Lukman Mohamed, the Nostradamus four-year-old came with a huge run over the last 200m to claim victory. Until then, it appeared like Royal Commission (Nazir Aiman) had it signed, sealed and delivered. But Kim Legend was not to be intimidated. Having just his second trial at Sungai Besi, he swamped the leader to win going away. Trained by Wayne Lim Woei Chet, Kim Legend has had two unplaced outings - one at Ipoh and one at Sungai Besi. Both starts were held in Class 4A company, first over 1,300m before being stepped up to 1,400m. Granted, he did not set the track ablaze, but on his brilliant trial form on June 4, he could be the real deal at his third start. brian@
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lightly-raced Kiwi filly She's A Dealer and her little known jockey George Rooke are set to spring a surprise on Randwick
A mystery New Zealand filly and her unknown English rider are set to make a statement in their Australian debuts at Royal Randwick on Saturday. She's A Dealer and jockey George Rooke are set to continue their winning momentum in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m). Champion Kiwi trainer Roger James has Queensland Oaks ambitions for She's A Dealer after she won her two most recent starts impressively at Ellerslie and Te Rapa with Rooke in the saddle. James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, has a big opinion of the three-year-old filly and her jockey. 'She's A Dealer hasn't got enough prizemoney to qualify for the Queensland Oaks (Eagle Farm, June 7),' James said. 'So, we thought by bringing her to Sydney, it might give her the chance to get into the Oaks. 'People in New Zealand had not heard of George Rooke nine months ago but he's a talented jockey and he knows this filly very well.' She's A Dealer, who is by 2017 Spring Champion Stakes-Victoria Derby winner Ace High, has only had three starts and is in her first race preparation. TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are keeping She's A Dealer 'safe' in betting, rating her an $8 chance behind Sisu Spirit, the $4.20 favourite. 'She's A Dealer is a filly we have liked for a long time but she got a lung infection in the spring and we lost three months with her,' James revealed. Race 3 at Te Rapa goes to the @Kingsclere_Nz trained Filly She's A Dealer The 3yo by Ace High (@RichHillStud) broke her maiden last start, and backed it up with another win at the hands of @GeorgeRooke6 Replay: #BigSaturday | @TeRapaRacing â€' Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) April 26, 2025 • Randwick predicted to go ahead despite dire forecast 'Then at her first start in March, she did a lot wrong which was unusual for her. 'But then she has come out and won her next two starts easily and we feel she is a very promising filly.' James said Rooke was recommended to him by Mark Todd, New Zealand's two-time Olympic Equestrian gold medallist. 'Mark is an old friend of mine and he was at Royal Ascot last year where he saw George riding,' James said. 'George wasn't getting a lot of opportunities in England so he made the move to New Zealand last October and has already ridden 55 winners, he's in the top 10 in the jockeys premiership and is basically our stable rider now.' She's A Dealer hasn't raced on a heavy track so far in her three-start career but James is confident his filly will handle the very wet conditions at Randwick on Saturday. 'She has trialled on a heavy track at home and handled it pretty well,' James said. 'Whether that was because of her ability I'm not sure but I think she will get through it okay. She arrived in Sydney last weekend and has not missed a beat since so we are looking forward to Saturday's race.'
