Latest news with #SelangorMile
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Lucky Magic (NZ) Sparkles In Selangor Mile
Karaka graduate Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) secured a place in Malaysian racing history on Sunday with a triumph in the inaugural RM$1m Selangor Mile (1600m). The winner's share of that seven-figure prize lifted Lucky Magic past RM660,000 in prize-money – the equivalent of more than NZ$260,000. He was a $35,000 purchase from Prima Park's Karaka 2022 draft, and was later knocked down for $75,000 when prepared in Prima Park's 2022 Ready to Run Sale draft. Lucky Magic has been a star on the rise in recent months, winning seven of his last nine starts leading into the Selangor Mile, and it was all part of a long-range plan to peak on the day of Malaysia's mega-rich feature for four-year-olds. 'I always knew Lucky Magic could win the Selangor Mile,' trainer HY Cheng said. 'I promised the owner the win and I am just so happy my expectation is proven correct. He will win many Cups, for sure.' Lucky Magic was ridden by Ridzuan Shafiq and took up a handy position in fifth, one off the rail. Shafiq angled him into clear air at the top of the straight and pushed the button. A brilliant turn of foot soon carried Lucky Magic into a clear lead at the 200-metre mark, and he found more in the final stages of the race to turn back a late challenge from Good Star (Shalaa) and win by a neck. 'I have ridden him five times this year and he is better than ever,' Shafiq said. 'He is a fighter. Just when Good Star got to us, he fought back. He is now more mature and learning to relax in his races.' Lucky Magic has now had a total of 13 starts for eight wins and two placings. Sunday's third placegetter Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn) is also a Karaka graduate, having been bought by trainer Simon Dunderdale for $23,000 from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale. His 17-start career has produced 10 wins, six placings and more than RM450,000 (NZ$177,000). The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October. Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB's online portal at
New Paper
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Lucky Magic gains the verdict in Selangor Mile
Dual Group 1 winner Lucky Magic had to survive a protest before he was established as the winner in the RM1 million (S$302,000) Selangor Mile (1,600m) at Sungai Besi on July 20, but trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong was unperturbed. The Mendelssohn four-year-old - who won the Group 1 Penang Gold Cup (2,000m) in December 2024 and the Group 1 Perak Derby (2,000m) in March - was one of the favourites lining up in Malaysia's richest four-year-old race in history after he last took out the Special Rapid Stakes A race (1,300m) in easy fashion at Penang's farewell meeting on May 31. After breaking well from barrier 5, Lucky Magic (Shafiq Rizuan) settled in midfield early as the front runner Stop The Water (Laercio de Souza) spearheaded the field of 16, while Red Dragonfly (Khaw Choon Kit) and War Star (Akmazani Mazuki) followed in close attendance. As the field made their run around the bend, Shafiq was also seen making inroads on Lucky Magic. It was a well-timed run by the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey as the pair found the front upon swinging for home, albeit six wide. Stop The Water was soon engulfed at the 300m with Platinum Glory (Troy See) and Eruption (Clint Johnston-Porter) hot on his heels, while Lucky Magic was also looming large under Shafiq's urging. By the 150m, Lucky Magic ($11) was pulling away from most, but not the Mahadi Taib-trained Good Star (Uzair Sharudin), who was making good ground on the outside. The son of Shalaa had initially tried to dive through between Lucky Magic and Eruption at the 300m, but the gap closed after Eruption hung out, so he had to be angled out to make the dash to the line. Good Star came up short by a neck in the end, while the 2024 Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) winner Antipodean (Bernardo Pinheiro) rushed home too late and had to settle for third, another 2½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 34.4sec for the 1,600m on the long course. Good Star's connections raised an objection against the winner after the race, but stewards dismissed it after deliberation. Cheng, too, was of the opinion that Lucky Magic won the race fair and square. "I was not worried at all. We saw the video in the stewards' room and it was clear Eruption was the one who hung out," said the Penang-born conditioner. "We had a good draw, good ground and Shafiq knows the horse very well. He's a good horse and I was very confident before the race. "I left it to Shafiq how he wants to ride him, but I just told him 'the horse will bring you home'." Cheng has had plans to run the Happy Baby Stable-owned galloper overseas after his second Group 1 victory in the Perak Derby. With Lucky Magic's eighth and latest success in Malaysia, Cheng is now keen to take things to the next level in the Land of the Morning Calm. "I will call Fin Powrie (racing adviser and senior steward at Korea Racing Authority) tomorrow and see if he (Lucky Magic) has a chance to run in Korea, maybe in the Korea Sprint," said Cheng. "I believe he can run very well, even if it's the sand track." Open to both South Korea-based and overseas runners, the international Group 3 Korea Sprint (1,200m) will be held at Seoul racecourse on Sept 7, together with the international Group 3 Korea Cup (1,800m) at the same meeting. Shafiq, who bagged a treble with Master Player ($288) and Cheerful Baby ($69) for trainer Jerome Tan earlier, also gave the thumbs-up after Lucky Magic's win. "He's good. I was a bit worried (about the protest) but he's very strong to the line," he said. Cheng's Graphjet Express surprised at big odds of $127 to score in the other open contest for four-year-olds, the RM100,000 A Plus Selangor Silver (1,300m). Under a heady ride from Andre da Silva, the son of Belardo overcame the widest barrier 13 and flew home from near last to come out tops, finishing ¾ length ahead of the Simon Dunderdale-trained Thunderous (Ryan Curatolo). Big Union (Pinheiro) ran third. The winning time was 1:16.06 for the 1,300m on the long course. Cheng revealed Graphjet Express was nominated for the Selangor Mile, but he thought the 1,300m trip in the second feature suited the New Zealand-bred better. "I actually entered him for the Selangor Mile, but to me, the 1,600m might be too long, so I discussed with the owner and we decided to run him in the 1,300m race instead," he said. "I quite like the horse, but draw 13 is not good, so I wasn't confident of his chances. "But Andre rode him very well. To me, he's the best jockey here. "He (Graphjet Express) is a good horse owned by Selangor Turf Club's chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham. A big thank you to him. "I also want to thank all the owners for supporting me, my team for a great job, and the racing fans who messaged me today." sharonzhang@
New Paper
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Big Union has first Malaysian win in sight
While all eyes out there may be locked on the prestigious Selangor Mile - the highlight race at Sungai Besi on July 20 - there are other good races on the undercard that have good winning chances too. Some of the the frisky four-year-olds involved in the RM1 million (S$235,000) race over 1,600m were put through their paces on the training track, but none seemed to be willing to give away much in terms of form. First, there was the highest-rated Antipodean - sitting on 103 points - from the field of 17. The son of Derryn - who was just transferred back to Simon Dunderdale's yard after six starts with Tiang Kim Choi - had an easy dash over the 600m, which he covered in 40sec. He is at the top of his game. Valois, another one from Dunderdale's yard, breezed over the 600m in 41sec. Trained by Lawson Moy, Eruption went a tad faster, stopping the clock at 39.2sec, which left the Richard Lines-trained Kim Emperor to top the time sheet with a fluent 38.7sec gallop. Other than the "stars" in the Selangor Mile making their appearances, racers on the undercard also tossed in good gallops on a track rated good. Top of the pops was Big Union. He, who will see action in the Selangor Silver - an open race over 1,300m for four-year-olds - turned in a respectable 38.8sec for his romp over the 600m. Never further than fifth in his last seven runs in Kuala Lumpur, Big Union has a good chance of claiming his first Malaysian win. A five-time winner at Kranji - all with jockey Bernardo Pinheiro - Big Union will have the service of the visiting Brazilian hoop again this time, and trainer Jerome Tan will be looking for a top showing from this son of Zoustar. From trainer Richard Lim's camp, Southern Speed turned in a smart gallop, running the 600m in 37.8sec. The I Am Invincible seven-year-old will line up in the Class 4B sprint (1,200m), and he will come into Sunday's action on the back of an impressive last-start win in a Class 5A race (1,400m) on June 29. That day, Southern Speed led from barrier to box. It was a fighting win and he eventually held off Spieth Heroine by a head. The drop back in trip should suit Southern Speed better as he has, in 51 starts, won three races over the shorter 1,200m. He is up in grade but the five-time winner has, in the past, dealt with Class 4 rivals and still come out tops. Watch out for Defeater, who is down to contest the Class 4A race over 1,200m. The Unite And Conquer three-year-old worked well, covering the 600m in 41.8sec. Trained by Tiang, Defeater is a rising star in Malaysian racing. To date, he has produced a handy record of three wins - all over 1,200m - three seconds and three thirds from 16 runs. At his last run in an Open race (1,600m) on June 29, Defeater was soundly beaten in that race won by Trees Of Valinor. The Australian galloper jumped from gate 12 and was angled out wide in the straight, but he did not make inroads when Khairil Zulkiflee asked for more, eventually finishing in eighth. Defeater is better than that. After all, it was as recently as his second-last start on June 15, in a Class 4A race (1,100m), that he ran a gallant second to the promising four-year-old Hypeman, who won on debut in Malaysia. Put a line through his last start and watch for an improved showing from the talented Defeater. Come July 20, he will have the track and trip on his side, and his connections could be looking at a fourth win at his 17th start. Another runner who will have the track and trip in his favour is Baby Twins. Trained by Tan, the Mondialiste five-year-old turned in a good workout, running the 600m in 38.4sec. The four-time winner, once at Kranji and thrice at Sungai Besi, has recorded all his wins at Class 4 level. The closest he got to a win at Class 3 level was when he finished ½ length in third behind Honesty on May 18. But, Baby Twins will get into the Class 3 race (1,100m) on July 20 with a featherweight of 52kg. It is a huge plus, and if left unchallenged up front, he could make every post a winning one. brian@
New Paper
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Lucky Magic ready to spellbind again
Down to contest the rich Selangor Mile, Lucky Magic was put through his paces at the July 8 trials. Trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong's dual Group 1 winner showed he clearly had the credentials to flex his muscles in a big race. Ridden by Shafiq Rizuan, the son of Mendelssohn jumped on terms and settled rather comfortably into fourth spot despite having to clear a disadvantaged outside chute. Up in front and on a track rated good, Mega Blaze, Zero Five Six and Lim's Craft fought for the lead. Rounding the turn which brought the field to the top of the home stretch and Shafiq still had Lucky Magic on a tight rein. But, with slightly more than a furlong to travel, the complexion of the trial changed completely. Shafiq clicked his mount into action and, like a bullet from a shotgun, Lucky Magic was off and gone. He went through the front runners like a hot knife through butter and at the finish, he had put three parts of a length between himself and the chasing pack, led by Lim's Craft and Zero Five Six. But it was all about Lucky Magic, who clocked an impressive 59.64sec for the 1,000m. Undoubtedly one of the stars currently residing at Sungai Besi, he has to-date won seven races going back to June 2, 2024, highlighted by the Group 1 Penang Gold Cup (2,000m) in December and Group 1 Perak Derby (2,000m) in March. Last time at Penang's farewell meeting on May 31, the four-year-old carried stable confidence and duly obliged when coming off third spot at the 800m mark to win a Special Rapid Stakes A race over 1,300m, which, slated as Race 7 of the seven-race programme, was the last race ever staged in Penang. The proven middle-distance performer should be even better when tackling the 1,600m on July 20. Another notable trend of his is to string together his victories. After racking up a race-to-race double on Oct 6 and 27, he then weaved a treble on Dec 29, Jan 31 and March 2, bookending the haul with his two Group 1 successes. The inaugural Selangor Mile - to be Malaysia's richest four-year-old in history at a purse of RM1 million (S$301,000) - on July 20 is now next in Lucky Magic's crosshairs. Hats off to runner-up Lim's Craft, who has been a luckless customer at his last six outings. He took fourth on March 23 and April 12. Following a sixth to Platinum Glory on May 25, he ran third at his last two starts on June 7. A veteran of 10 wins from 75 starts, the Smart Missile nine-year-old can still raise a gallop, and could surprise at his next start. Another one from the trials who bears watching is Witnessimpact, who alongside former stablemate Antipodean, took Malaysia by storm for trainer Simon Dunderdale at the end of last year. A winner of four-from-four at his initial Malaysian campaign, the Victorian import has failed to recapture the same shine in 2025, but his win in the third hit-out of the morning - the first of two on sand - was encouraging. Thriving on the alternative surface, he made all for jockey Uzair Sharudin to win by six lengths. His time of 1min 0.24sec for that run on the sand was extremely commendable as Kim Empire, who won the next trial on the sand, clocked 1:02.18 when beating Elite Boy by a head. The Star Witness five-year-old has just moved to Ooi Chin Chin's barn following a string of disappointing runs. He did open his 2025 campaign - all in Kuala Lumpur - in style, leading all the way in a Supreme A (1,200m) at Sungai Besi on Jan 12. But after he ran second to Noah Khan in a 1,200m sprint on Feb 23, his form took a dive and the best he could manage for his next four starts was a fifth placing in a Class 2 (1,020m) race on June 15. Five wins from 12 starts is no small matter. So keep Witnessimpact on your radar, he could get his groove back. brian@
New Paper
16-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Pacific Victory, Man Of Action shine up north
KUALA LUMPUR The super-consistent Pacific Victory was rewarded with his first trophy success on June 15, when he beat a top-notch field in the RM200,000 (S$60,000) 4-Year-Old Sprint Championship (1,200m) at Sungai Besi. But a bigger prize could be in store for the Jason Ong-trained Rubick gelding when he lines up for the RM1 million Selangor Mile, a 1,600m race for four-year-olds, on July 20. "He is our stable favourite. I will see how he pulls up but he will be going for the Selangor Mile if all goes well. That is the target," said two-time Singapore champion trainer Ong who is already well clear on the Malaysian trainers' log on 50 winners. "He is a versatile sort and should take the mile as he has won over the distance. He is improving with every run. He was in better shape than in his previous start." Pacific Victory has indeed taken to his new surroundings in Kuala Lumpur like a duck to water, winning his debut in Class 3 last December and has since added five more victories and notched three seconds in 10 starts. Jerlyn Seow, who has ridden in all but one of Pacific Victory's starts in Malaysia, has now saluted seven times aboard the Pacific Stable ward, including one at Kranji when then prepared by Tan Kah Soon. The two other feature races at the bumper 13-race programme in Kuala Lumpur also highlighted two worthy winners. Ong was once more the happy recipient at the prize presentation after Filial Dragon (Wong Kam Chong, $47) earlier claimed the Korea Racing Authority Trophy, a Class 2 (1,020m) event. The third "Cup" race, the TNI Charity Cup, a Class 3 (1,600m) event, went to Richard Lines' Gulf Eagle (Andre da Silva, $32). A day earlier on June 14, the Perak Turf Club meeting saw seven races ironed out for decision, with the Kevin Coetzee-trained Man Of Action (Harmeet Singh Gill) arguably the winner with the most upside after he claimed the RM26,000 Cosmo C race (1,300m). Known at Kranji as Arya Pakuan, a winner of three races for Stephen Gray (one) and James Peters (two), the Sebring five-year-old had taken his Singapore form across the Causeway with two wins for his new Ipoh trainer Coetzee. He has, however, not been seen since his last-start win in a Cosmo C race (1,400m) on April 26. But he was as nimble as ever when he easily accounted for his five rivals under an inspired ride by Gill. Coetzee said that the long break was not by design, but it clearly bore no ill-effects. "I targeted him for the Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy but there were too many horses ahead of him in the ratings. He was not even handicapped," said the South African handler. A Cosmo C race was programmed on June 8, but the 1,100m trip was deemed a touch too short for him. The wait by another week for a more suitable race proved to be right on the money. Backed down to solid $11 favouritism, Man Of Action was well held together by Gill, smothered up midfield in a bunched-up pack before he was let loose upon straightening. TURFONLINE
