Latest news with #SuperSalute
New Paper
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Super Salute's fan base looks all set to broaden
Super Salute has shown racegoers that he is not just a "one-track" pony. A prolific winner at Kranji - nine, seven for Jason Lim and two for Richard Lim (of no relation) - including three at Group level, the son of I Am Invincible has since gone where they send him. After he crossed the Causeway to continue his career in Malaysia following the closure of Singapore racing in October, he has tried his utmost to turn on the charm despite a bad back. He may have yet to garner that kind of support at his new home in Selangor, but he is getting there. Under the care of his new trainer, the Kuala Lumpur-based Sivan Veerapen, he has already won twice, once at his home base and once in Ipoh. Racing fans at Ipoh will remember him for that win on their track on April 13. That day, under a ride from 4kg claimer Nik Shahronnizam and sent off a raging favourite, Super Salute justified all that confidence by beating Mega Gems by almost four lengths over the 1,300m. It was then back to Kuala Lumpur for his next task on May 4. Pitted against some really good opposition and sent over the same 1,300m journey - this time in the more experienced hands of Shafiq Rizuan - Super Salute unleashed a run at the top of the stretch to beat Pacific Victory by ¾-length. Not done yet, he still had Penang to conquer and he could not have chosen a bigger and better stage to pull it off. It was on May 31, the day the curtain was to fall on racing at Penang when Super Salute took the commemorative race, the Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy (1,300m) in dominant fashion, beating Pacific Vampire by 2½ lengths. A record of three wins at all three Malaysian tracks, from nine race starts, is surely something to crow about. That genuineness was still there for all to see on the morning of June 17, when he emerged as one of the stars on the training track at Sungai Besi. Taken out for a romp, he was not extended to clock 41.2sec for the 600m. Back to the present and Sivan has picked a challenging race at Kuala Lumpur on June 22 for his six-year-old. It is the Supreme "A" contest to be run over the 1,400m and Super Salute - with his rating of 117 - will have to give weight to all of his rivals. However, on the back of that most recent workout, Super Salute looks to be in a good place right now and should run a good race. Also catching the eye on the same morning were So We Fight and Commander. Both looked in good order when clocking 41.2sec for the 600m. The Simon Dunderdale-trained So We Fight is a galloper going places. The four-year-old son of So You Think has had a break since his last race on April 5 when he led but faded to eighth to Red Dragonfly in a Class 4A (1,400m). On June 22, the three-time winner (1,020m to 1,500m) will have just his second race over 1,200m. His last seven outings have all been over 1,400m and beyond. Given his preference for racing from the front, the shorter 1,200m of that Class 4A race could be just what he is looking for - especially coming off a break. Another one from Dunderdale's stable, Commander has been a good horse to have in the barn. Formerly with Donna Logan, who saddled him to one win at Kranji on Dec 17, 2023, the son of U S Navy Flag has turned the corner since joining Dunderdale. After a wining debut for his new yard in a Class 5A race (1,300m) in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 8, he doubled up two weeks later when stepped up to a Class 4 (1,400m) at the same track, beating Golden Lightning by ¾-length. Thereafter, Commander found the competition tougher in that grade, albeit he managed to eke out another win from Leopard Eclipse in a 1,400m contest on Dec 8, which was to be the last time he greeted the judge. He has mixed his form since, but would have inspired stable confidence when he finished second - by a neck - in his last start in a Class 4B race (1,150m) on June 7. At his 30th race start this weekend, he will trot out with a handy weight of 54.5kg. If anything, he deserves more than just a second glance. brian@
New Paper
31-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Penang's farewell Saluted in style
The final chapter in the rich history of the 161-year-old Penang Turf Club (PNTC) was closed on May 31, in front of a big turnout. A larger than usual crowd of around 3,000 - three times the average attendance - turned up at the Batu Gantong track to mark their presence at the historic but sad day for racing fans. Plagued by plummeting turnover and attendances, the PNTC becomes the second Malayan Racing Association turf club to bow out, after the Singapore Turf Club on Oct 5, leaving only the Selangor Turf Club and Perak Turf Club. Asian neighbour, the Macau Jockey Club, also closed its doors on April 1, 2024, unable to square its ledger as well. After four out of five Penang meetings were cancelled in 2025 (before May 31, the only meeting that went ahead was on March 8) due to the perennial reason of insufficient numbers, many hoped the finale would not fall prey to the same logistics concerns. But the Malaysian racing fraternity rallied round in force. With trainers and owners from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh pledging support by sending up their horses, the PNTC was able to honour its word to not go out without offering its patrons one last treat. Seven races were programmed, with the highlight being the RM250,000 (S$76,000) Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy, a Special Rapid Stakes A over 1,300m that garnered many top-drawer gallopers, such as Pacific Vampire, Antipodean, Super Salute, Gamestonks, Cheval Blanc and Noah Khan, to name a few. Though three horses were scratched - the Frank Maynard pair of Cheval Blanc and Circuit Mission and Richard Lim's Faithful Leader - a capacity field of 14 still faced the starter, given all three Emergency Acceptors were available - Pacific Padrino, Streets Of Fire and Shirvo. In the end, it was former Singapore Group 2 EW Barker Trophy winner Super Salute ($42) who grabbed the honours after taking the shortest way home along the rails for jockey Khaw Choon Kit to reel in favourite Pacific Vampire (Jerlyn Seow) en route to glory. Sivan Veerapen was proud to be the winning trainer of the last feature race at a place he not only holds fond memories of with many winners, both as a trainer and a jockey, but also for sentimental reasons. "I was born and bred in Penang. That's where I began my racing career as a jockey," said the 60-year-old, who is based at the Selangor Turf Club. "I last came here in December for the Penang Gold Cup meeting and five months later, Penang has already changed so much. There has been much land reclaimed and I even saw a new bridge. "As for today's feature race, I had planned that race for Super Salute. Put it this way, he is one class above the rest, but he also has some issues with his back. "He can be inconsistent, but he's now come right. I wasn't worried about his 59.5kg as I think he can carry 65kg at his best. "I just told Khaw not to rush him, he'll finish strongly - and he did." However, it was the last actual race - and understandably so - that felt more like the real final lap of honour. Without taking anything away from Super Salute, who certainly deserved accolades for his resounding win, Lucky Magic (Shafiq Rizuan) was greeted to an even more rapturous reception, led by trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong - complete with some tears of joy and a custom-made farewell sash. The fairy-tale ending of sorts could not have been scripted any better. Fittingly, Lucky Magic is also the winner of Penang's last classic, the Group 1 Penang Gold Cup (2,000m) in December, and Cheng is, just like Sivan, a hometown boy. "As a Penang boy, I'm so proud I won the last race in my hometown," said Cheng. "I targeted two wins and both horses, Graphjet Express and Lucky Magic won. We were so happy with my owners and friends, and even had a farewell banner. "But at the same time, we can't do anything about it (the closure). I'm sad I won't be coming here to race any more, as I would then visit my mum. "Of course, I'll still visit her, but I'll definitely miss the races here." manyan@
New Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Emotional victory for Penang-born jockey as PTC rides into the sunset
GEORGE TOWN: As horse racing at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in Batu Gantung draws to a close, the club commissioned a specially named farewell trophy to mark its swan song. The 1,300m Race 6 featured 14 horses competing for the RM250,000 Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy. It was won by Super Salute, trained by V. Sivan and jockeyed by C.K. Khaw. Khaw, 31, a Penang native, said the win was all the more meaningful to him, as this was the last race at PTC. "I am speechless. I wasn't leading from the beginning but at the 350m mark, I saw a gap and seized the opportunity to move in and overtake. "I pushed through all the way to the finish line." Khaw began his career as a jockey after finishing high school at 19, and has been riding professionally for 12 years. "This is not the hardest race I've won but it was the most significant -- winning on Penang soil, on the final day of the PTC." Khaw, based in Kuala Lumpur, said he intends to ride professionally for as long as he can. "Although PTC has ceased operations, I'll keep competing at the Perak and Selangor Turf Clubs and aim to grow my name in the industry." Meanwhile, Sivan told the "New Straits Times" that he was happy with the win but sad that today was the last race at PTC. "What's more, Super Salute set a track record with an impressive time. "We'll continue racing in Kuala Lumpur, but for now, Super Salute deserves a good rest." The final race started at 4.25pm and ended at 4.27pm, which marked the official closing of the track. The Special Rapid Stakes A 1,300m was won by horse No 5 Lucky Magic, trained by H.Y. Cheng and jockeyed by R. Shafiq. With the conclusion of the seven races, Penang bids farewell to a cherished institution.
