The 1200m Cherry Blossom Stakes (Race 5) will headline the ten-race program at Perak Turf Club and will feature the return of G1 Coronation Cup winner GOOD FIGHT (3), which is first-up since taking out the Listed Charity Cup here on November 26.
The 6yo has only scored once from six starts when resuming but is coming off a career-best preparation towards the end of last year as he aims for his fourth successive victory in the Enrich Stakes A contest.
The gelding will be lining up against smart sprinter GAMESTONKS (1), who should be primed third-up and wasn’t far away in the G1 Tunku Gold Cup five weeks ago. One of three runners emanating from the cup race in Saturday’s contest, GAMESTONKS (1) has trained on well judging by his trial win during the week and will be hard to hold out at only his second visit to the Ipoh circuit.
Also coming out of the Tunku Cup is SPEEDY MISSILE (6), a handy sit-sprinter who caught the eye in the G1 feature with his signature burst of speed when coming from last to finish 5th (btn 3.5L).
QUICKEN AWAY (7) did not disgrace in the Cup either despite finishing 9th at his first attempt against group company and appears well-weighted.
VILLAGE WARRIOR (11) has been a progressive type with a couple of recent Class 4 wins and was runner-up in the Selangor Chairman’s Trophy two starts back.
Race 5 Selections: (1) GAMESTONKS (7) QUICKEN AWAY (3) GOOD FIGHT (6) SPEEDY MISSILE
Trainer Ismadi Ismail has relocated his training base back to Perak recently, and stable representative ROCK N ROLL (3) looks a chance of a winning return in the 1400m Lotus Handicap (Race 9).
ROCK N ROLL (3) has won six times from thirteen starts over the trip and has missed a place only once in six appearances on the track.
LOOKS GOOD (5), a winner this track and distance when resuming on March 23, has raced well this preparation while BE YOURSELF (7) is expected to improve despite only one win from seventeen starts.
PENANG MAN (9) has won 3 from 7 this year with all victories on his home track in Penang, while MAIDANZ BEAUTY (2) won a 1000m trial in KL on Tuesday and should not be overlooked back in Class 5 grade.
Race 9 Selections: (3) ROCK N ROLL (5) LOOKS GOOD (7) BE YOURSELF (9) PENANG MAN
