Latest news with #NewZealand-bred
New Paper
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Rich N Powerful and mighty slick as well
Rich N Powerful was at the trials on the morning of July 29, and there were plenty of similarities with the Bold Runner story. On July 22, the latter won his trial in commanding fashion, beating Benbo by four lengths on the sand track. Five days later, he was at the races and the rest is history. Bold Runner reproduced that trial form - only better. The Ananthen Kuppan-trained three-year-old ran away from his rivals to take the Class 4B race (1,300m) at Sungai Besi with loads of authority. Rich N Powerful hails from a different yard, that of Tan Eng Peow, but who is to say he cannot do the same on Aug 3? The Dream Ahead mare arguably does not have as much upside as Bold Runner, but her trial still channelled the same vibes. Rich N Powerful's hit-out was also on the sand, and she also led all the way. It was actually a tale of last horse in, first horse out, and this is how that fourth trial unfolded. Ridden by apprentice Shazmin Sudin and having to clear gate No. 2, Rich N Powerful was neatly into stride and by the time the field had made that first turn on the far side, she had put two lengths on her nearest rival, Major King. Into the home stretch and there was no let-up. Taking the shortest route home, Rich N Powerful extended that lead and, in a show of sheer dominance, she went on to win by 5½ lengths. Her time of 1min 2.13sec on a tight hold for the 1,000m augurs well for her upcoming race on Aug 3 - the Class 4 (B) sprint over the 1,150m. A New Zealand-bred six-year-old, she has to date won two races and both were over the short and sharp trips of 1,020m and 1,100m. That said, her last few runs have not been inspiring but, to her credit, she did add money to the kitty when running third to Otahuhu in an 1,100m race on June 7. But it all came apart at her last start when she could only manage to beat three home in a sprint over the 1,020m trip. Still, she deserves another chance and if she puts on her Sunday best and produces that bright early speed which we know she possesses, she could register a third career win. Earlier, in the first trial of the morning and one of three which were run on the grass, Roda Robot was all-conquering. Ridden by Andre da Silva, the noted front runner cleared the chute in a hurry and opened up a two-length lead on Pacific Flash. However, he soon gave up that lead and settled for a holding position behind the leader. There he stayed until 350m from home. With a flick of the reins, da Silva asked his mount for an effort and Roda Robot responded. He eventually took the honours with 2½ lengths to spare. Rubik Kid, under a good ride from Yusoff Fadzli dropped in for second with Fortune Tree (Shafiq Rizuan), who was being tested with pacifiers, holding down third. But it was all about Roda Robot. He was at the trials by order of the club's vets after returning lame at his last start on July 12. Needless to say, he passed his test and the way is now open for Jason Ong to send him to the races. Watch for the day that happens. Roda Robot is better than what he has shown at his last few outings. It seems like he is finding it difficult to lay down a marker at his new home at Sungai Besi. To date, the Mongolian Khan five-year-old has been winless over eight starts over the Selangor layout - which is hard to fathom. After all, he was something else at Kranji where he won seven races over varying trips from 1,400m to 2,000m. Keep the faith and you could soon be rewarded. brian@
New Paper
a day ago
- Sport
- New Paper
No More Delay set to double the score
No More Delay's last-start victory on June 29 gave spectators something to savour. Trained by Wayne Lim, No More Delay motored home strongly over the final furlong in that Class 3 race (1,200m), but so did Pacific MV. The Zoustar six-year-old got his head down where it mattered, denying Pacific MV of the honours by three parts of a length. Now, he has a date with the starter on Aug 2 - which is the first of a two-day Selangor meeting - and he could be looking at a race-to-race double. Owned by the Trips D Stable, No More Delay served notice of his chances in the Class 3 sprint (1,200m) when he turned in a smart gallop at Sungai Besi on the morning of July 29. On a track rated "good", No More Delay loosened up with a strong canter before showing fluent action over the 600m which he covered in 41sec. Already a six-time winner from 34 starts - twice over 1,200m in Singapore and four times in Malaysia - it will not come as a surprise to see the former Kranji galloper run away with this sprint. Commander, who will see action in that Class 4B race (1,400m) on Aug 2, was another who served notice of his intentions with a smart training gallop. The four-year-old New Zealand-bred stopped the clock at 40.8sec, an effort that would have pleased reigning champion trainer Simon Dunderdale. The U S Navy Flag son was a "good thing beaten" at his last start, finishing fourth in a Class 4A event over 1,200m on July 20, which was won by Billy Elliot. Flashback to the action and Commander was never in a hurry. The Foong Ah Weng-owned galloper chose to take the scenic route home and it was only at the furlong mark, when urged along by Uzair Sharudin, that he grew wings and took off. But there was too much catching up to do. To date, Commander has won five races - once over 1,600m when trained by Donna Logan in Singapore - and placed second on four occasions. Among his four wins in Kuala Lumpur, three came over 1,400m and one was over the 1,300m. The 1,400m on Aug 2 is right up his alley and his sixth win could come sooner than later. At his fifth and last win two starts ago over the 1,400m on July 6, Commander stayed closer to the lead and was let loose 400m from home. His rivals had no answer and he cruised in by 1½ lengths. Back in his comfort zone, Commander could be one of the better bets at the races coming up. Another one who bears watching is Lim's Betterready. He turned in a pleasing workout when running the 600m in 40sec. One of four from Lawson Moy's yard entered for the Aug 2 meeting, his last few races were nothing to crow about. But roll back to his last win in a Supreme C contest on July 7, 2024, and one will see that it was over the 1,400m. The Better Than Ready seven-year-old has not been in tip-top state, but lining up in the Class 4B contest (1,400m) could work in his favour, for he has won twice over the trip in six wins. The same could be said for Magic Captain, who showed promise in his training gallop when running the 600m in 38.2sec. Trained and owned by 11-time Malaysian champion trainer Richard Lines, who has entered a team of nine horses on Aug 2, Magic Captain's last four races will do little to inspire confidence - but he is better than that. A noted front runner, the son of Furnaces has won three times, all over sprints: twice over 1,100m in Ipoh and once over 1,075m in Kuala Lumpur. Give the six-year-old gelding a chance in the Class 4A race (1,020m) on Aug 2. He gets in with a nice weight of just 54.5kg, and should he get going at a cracking pace, the rest might find him hard to chase down. brian@
New Paper
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Outfit on a mission to make amends
Leading trainer Jason Ong has entered a strong team of 18 horses for the 11 upcoming races at Sungai Besi on July 27, and he could be looking for a good showing from - among others - Outfit. The Singaporean conditioner - who is sitting on top of the trainers' premiership with 63 wins, 28 more than the second-placed Simon Dunderdale - has entered Outfit for the Class 4B event (1,300m). On the morning of July 22, the Turn Me Loose six-year-old turned in a smart workout, running the 600m in 40.8sec. Outfit did not burn up the track at Sungai Besi, but the New Zealand-bred still served notice of his chances of landing a ninth win. Outfit won five races in Singapore, three with previous trainer Shane Baertschiger and two with Ong. After kicking off his career in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, he has clocked in three more victories. However, the Happy Baby Stable-owned galloper's last two runs were disappointing. At his second-last start in a Class 4B race (1,100m) on June 15, Outfit was obliged to race wide the entire trip and, in the end, he beat just two home. Then, at his last start in a Class 4B event (1,150m) on June 29, when ridden by Akmazani Marzuki, he again took the scenic route home and finished way out of the money in eighth. But do not be too hasty in dismissing his chances. Those two races were over shorter trips and Ong has picked a 1,300m event for Outfit. The extra distance might just do the trick. Over at Lawson Moy's yard, Lim's Sinai is slated as the first reserve in the competitive Class 5A sprint over the 1,150m on July 27, but should he get to race, he could be the one they have to beat. The five-year-old son of Sooboog is looking good for a winning show - and he showed us on the morning of July 22 when he turned in a really smart training gallop. On a track rated good, the handsome chestnut stopped the clock at 36.3sec for his sprint over the 600m. Lim's Sinai - who won three races and finished second on six occasions in 33 starts - is pumped up and ready to go. An impressive winner on April 20 when he beat Sky Eight by almost three lengths in a Class 5A race over the sharp 1,150m, Lim's Sinai has been marking time and waiting for another opportunity. Promoted to Class 4 level after that barnstorming win, he never could show his stuff in the subsequent four runs. But, now that he is back in Class 5, do accord him all the respect. Owned by Tan Cheong Soon, Lim's Sinai is in his comfort zone and Moy knows that he could be saddling a winner at the Kuala Lumpur meeting on July 27. In the same race, keep an eye on Super Manjung. She impressed with a 600m gallop in 39.4sec and is looking good to break that sequence of two third-placed finishes. Prepared by Tiang Kim Choi, the six-year-old mare has just two wins to show from 29 starts, but it is worth noting that she has finished second and third on 13 occasions. This American-bred by Vancouver is capable, but she also needs a patient ride. Two runs back, when running a close-up third to Lightning Girl in a Class 5A event (1,275m) on June 15, jockey Shafiq Rizuan explained to the stewards that she had a tendency to lose momentum when touched with the whip, and was best ridden hands and heels. The pair reunited in a Class 5A race (1,020m) on July 12, and Super Manjung ran home for a creditable third again, albeit behind Sky Eight. Storm Titan was also impressive on the training track. From trainer Richard Lim's yard, the three-year-old youngster clocked a nice and neat 37.2sec for his 600m spurt, and all things point to a forward showing from the son of Ace High. A New Zealand-bred, Storm Titan earned loads of admirers when he starred in three trials from May 14 to June 4. The Khor Chin Seng-owned galloper won all three hit-outs, which made him a hot favourite at his debut in a Restricted Maiden race (1,200m) on June 15. Storm Titan looked to be travelling well, but he lost steam over the concluding stages and finished sixth to Strong Dragon. His next race on June 29 was over the mile, and again, he finished down the field. However, on the strength of his three wins at the trials and on his good workout on July 22, Storm Titan deserves another chance. But, like Lim's Sinai, Storm Titan is also an emergency acceptor. However, should he get a spot in the starting line-up, he could turn out to be the pick of the pack. brian@
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Super Sooty Second At Luhmuhlen 5
Eventer Samantha Lissington has bagged her best result ever, placing second in the prestigious CCI5* at Luhmuhlen in Germany overnight. Aboard the 14-year-old New Zealand-bred Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, who she co-owns with Pip McCarroll and husband Brayden Lissington, she held her nerve to finish, just .5 of a penalty point behind winner Ros Canter (GBR) and Izilot DHI. Overnight leader Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 had a very expensive rail to drop to third on 29.4. Earlier Samantha scored 28.9 in the dressage where many struggled to get good marks and sat in fourth place heading into the cross country where she blitzed it, adding just 0.4 time penalties to her tallies. She was clear and inside time in the showjumping overnight to finish on 29.3 for third. 'What a week,' said Samantha who has had Sooty for nearly a decade. 'I am absolutely thrilled to bring home a result we are all so proud of.' CCI5* is the highest ranked in eventing and there are just seven across the globe. 'There have been so many people involved in our journey along the way and I feel this result represents 15 years of hard work getting to this point.' But she says she feels they are just getting started. Earlier this month Samantha notched a world first taking the trifecta in a CCI4*-S event in France. 'Whilst you can barely dream of a result like this, being here feels right – like we've earnt this. I know how much my team and I have put in and this result is the beginning of that work starting to show.' She and Pip McCarroll bought Sooty as a five-year-old. 'I am so proud to be able to show he is the horse we always hoped he would be.' Samantha has previously completed just four CCI5* events with a seventh at Luhmuhlen back in 2021 aboard Ricker Ridge Rui her best effort. This was Sooty's second 5* start, his earlier being at Pau in France in 2023 for 12th place. Her goal is to make the New Zealand team for the 2026 World Championships. 'I have to say after the past six weeks, they do feel a lot closer,' she says. 'We have such depth of horsepower and they're all performing out of their skin at the moment. We've invested a huge amount of time into building our team and now we're sitting here with four horses already meeting the qualification criteria. 'The second half of the year is going to be so much fun.' Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo were the only other Kiwis still in the 46-strong CCI5* field, finishing in 13th on 50.5. Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte retired during the cross country. In the CCI4*-S Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man placed fourth on 36.5 penalty points. 'I am very happy with Rocket Man,' said Clarke. 'It was a lovely clear round (in the showjumping) to finish a successful and educational event for him. I am hoping he is a future star.' Abbey Thompson and Cadbury KSNZ finished 14th on 48.6. The 43-strong class was won by Julia Krajewski (GER) aboard Uelzener's Nickel on 27.7 penalty points with Emma Brussau (GER) on Dark Desire GS second with 34.5 and Andrew Cooper (AUS) on Sharvalley Thunder third on 36.1. WHAT: Longines Luhmuhlen Horse Trials CCI5*-L WHEN: June 12-15, 2025
New Paper
04-06-2025
- General
- New Paper
Gold Medal Rose within a whiff of maiden victory
With Malaysians celebrating the King's birthday on June 1 and, with the revelry flowing into June 2, there was no "official" trackwork at the Sungai Besi racetrack on the usual Tuesday. Of course, the horses who are down to contest the races on June 7 would not have had much of a break and many would have been given fast work. That being the case, it was - understandably and expectedly - rather quiet on the morning of June 4, when the order of the day would have been to keep it simple. So it was, fast gallops were few and far between but, for those at trackside, there was enough speed to whet the appetite. Impressive among them was Gold Medal Rose. The Wrote filly from the stables of Ooi Chin Chin was in a galloping mood and she covered the 600m in a smart time of 38.2sec. Still looking for that elusive first win, Gold Medal Rose will be having her seventh race start in the Open Maiden event over the 1,200m. On the strength of her most recent gallop, she should give her rivals something to think about. The New Zealand-bred is still a three-year-old and her most impressive showing was when she finished a head second to Defeater on debut in a 1,200m sprint way back on Sept 8, 2024. Ooi has since put her through the grinder. He sent her to the races five times where she added money to the kitty by finishing third on two occasions. In addition, she has been to the trials twice this season. Yes, she looks sufficiently topped up for this assignment coming up and it could pay to include her in that list of "horses to follow". Also turning on the style - but not in a sprinting sort of way - was Zero Five Five. The handsome-looking chestnut loosened up with some solid cantering and will come into the action in a Class 4B (1,150m) on June 7, looking primed and poised for a good showing. Prepared by Richard Lines, who pulled off a win with Seson on June 1, Zero Five Five came close to a first Malaysian win in Ipoh on May 11. But he had to be content with second, finding one better in Prince Lonhro. However, make no mistake about it, Zero Five Five knows a thing or two about racing and has a win to show. When based at Flemington before being flown out here, Zero Five Five - then racing as Wirrapanda - won a 1,130m race in Geelong on March 26, 2024. No doubt the Wandjina four-year-old's last-start ninth in a Class 4B (1,400m) back on his home track was a let-down, but on his smart workout, he can bounce back. It could also pay to keep an eye on Navy Seals, who is set to contest the Class 4 (B) race over the 1,700m. Trainer Frank Maynard sent the US Navy Flag four-year-old out for some fast work on June 4 and he came through that 600m sprint in 39.2sec. Already a four-time winner - three of which came when he was under the care of Tan Kah Soon at Kranji - Navy Seals won once for Maynard. That was on April 5 when he showed racing fans at Sungai Besi just how good a stayer he was. That day, when partnered by Nuqman Rozi, he came from near last at the 400m mark to power home for a narrow win over the 2,000m. He goes over 1,700m on June 7 and, while it might seem a tad short, he is in that kind of form which makes all things possible. Maynard can also count on Star Victory, who ran over the 600m in 40sec. The Vancouver six-year-old is still winless in Malaysia, but do not hold it against him. While housed at Kranji under the helm of English trainer James Peters, he posted six wins - over trips ranging between 1,100m and 1,400m. His last win was on Sept 28 when he came with a pounding run over the concluding stages of that 1,200m race to score by half-a-length. That day, he had five-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes doing the steering. The 1,500m he has to cover on June 7 should be right up his alley and, with the benefit of that solid piece of work, he could be anything he wants to be. brian@
