The Group 3 1400m Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup will highlight Sunday’s program as Course A will be in operation with the rail out 4m for the entire circuit. The Challenge Cup looks to be a wide open affair with a quality lineup featuring some gallopers coming off group one form from recent weeks.
BLACK THORN and KONG FU PANDA finished 1st and 2nd respectively in last month’s G1 1600m Selangor Gold Cup and both are set for a rematch in the feature.
BLACK THORN has since finish unplaced in the G1 Coronation Cup at Ipoh a fortnight ago but appeared to have little luck when trapped deep most of the way from barrier 11. The nine year old is favoured by a better draw this time and a return to its home track will be an advantage also. KONG FU PANDA is a model of consistency posting 5 wins this season and has not started since the Selangor Cup run. The smart four year old has drawn well and should settle on speed in a race which contains an abundance of early pace. CHEVAL RAPIDE faces his toughest assignment after three wins from four outings in the country but must be included based on the ease of his recent victories. The eight year old has drawn the pole and his track work on Tuesday was impressive carving out 36.2s (600m) on the sand track. SHANGHAI NIGHTS caught the eye when finishing 4th in the Selangor Gold Cup before he had a tendency to over race in the Coronation Cup when placed midfield in the Ipoh G1 feature.
The star triallist from Tuesday morning was the Charles Leck trained VULCAN, which led throughout recording a slick 1.00.46 for the 1000m scoring by 11 lengths. The seven year old struck a wet track for the first time last start when placed 4th over 1100m but he does look a genuine chance of recapturing winning form in the 1100m Class 3 contest (Race 6).
KRUGER, which posted 6 wins from 8 runs in his previous campaign, was outclassed in the G1 Selangor Gold Cup and drops back to easier company this time.
TIPPING POINT chalked up a winning hat trick earlier this year and is yet to miss a place when produced first up from a spell.
