He may still lay claim to being the best sprinter in the country even though he suffered a shock loss for the first time in Malaysia recently, but AWESOME STORM will be seeking redemption in the 1100m Metro A contest this Sunday. After a string of six successive victories in the country, including his 8.5 length demolition in the G1 Tungku Gold Cup, the former Australian galloper led and weakened in a Supreme A event on June 25. In fairness it was the gelding’s first run for over two months and he should bounce back to the winners enclosure with apprentice Clyde Leck to ride AWESOME STORM for the first time with the 3kg claim.
ECLIPSE SPLASH, now at eight years of age, has sustained an interrupted career due to injury with only 16 starts which has produced six wins, four of those in Singapore. The Frank Maynard trained gelding resumes from a short break and although he may not be in the vein of form he displayed earlier in his career, he does boast an excellent first up record.
The seven year old mare, GINGERELLA has been an honest campaigner for the Marcus Teh team and she can improve on recent form which may be a fraction below her best in recent weeks. She ran 3rd in a 1400m Metro A race two starts ago but she does rely on a fast pace to produce a finishing burst.
HANDSOME BENZ is one of the best sit sprinters going around and his steady climb through the grades hasn’t gone unnoticed either. The six year old has won twice from five runs this preparation and is capable of measuring up to Metro A company despite the wide draw.
An enthralling clash will be expected in the 1400m Supreme A event as SHANGHAI NIGHTS makes his race track return following a short stint on the sidelines. The seven year old took all before him as he stormed through the grades during the 2020 and 2021 seasons producing eight wins in a row. Resuming on May 15, the gelding’s winning streak came to an abrupt end when finishing runner up to Robbery Son over 1400m. However, there were excuses as he returned with heat stress after the race plus it was his first run for nearly a year.
LONELY BOY is in career best form posting six wins so far this year and produced the upset result on June 25 when beating a smart lineup at odds of RM 282 for the win dividened. The six year old is another terrific sit sprinter who relies on a fast speed and he was able to sustain a finishing burst last start clocking a time 0.7s outside the course record.
Not only did LONELY BOY produce a fast closing sectional in that contest but WAR DRAGON, who was coming off a two month break, was equally as impressive in the same race finishing runner up. WAR DRAGON has a good second up record and a win would not surprise.
