PERAK RACE PREVIEW SAT 29 JUNE
A marathon ten-race card awaits at PRTC this Saturday, featuring an intriguing mix of runners in the 1400m Doppio Stakes (Race 6), promising plenty of excitement in this high-grade contest. Two candidates, coming off unplaced efforts in the G1 Ipoh Gold Vase two weeks ago, will face off against a couple of Group One placegetters. Additionally, a promising type makes his return while two former Australian performers make their Malaysian debuts.
QUICKEN AWAY and STORM EIGHTY-THREE may have found the G1 Vase challenging but should benefit from the drop in class and are expected to perform better. QUICKEN AWAY struggled on the wet track, which should be forgiven. The 5-year-old showed promise by finishing behind talented sprinter Gamestonks in her previous start, suggesting she could bounce back strongly.
GOLDEN KING finished 4th in the 2000m G1 Perak Derby in April and performs well at the Ipoh circuit, while RAGNAR placed in the G1 Penang Gold Cup in December, showcasing their versatility over various distances.
TEOCHEW KID, with four wins last season, returns from a four-month break and has only missed a place once in five runs following a spell.
Among the two former Australian horses now trained locally by Ismadi Ismail, GLORIOUS BISCUIT holds stronger credentials with two victories earlier this year and showed promise with a comfortable trial win a week ago Tuesday. LEONG MA BISCUIT hasn’t won in 21 months but has both career wins over 1400m in Australia and comes off a decent trial.
Race 6 Selections: (4) QUICKEN AWAY, (3) GOLDEN KING, (2) TEOCHEW KID, (1) STORM EIGHTY-THREE
Another Ismadi runner, VILLAGE WARRIOR, could return to winning form on the downgrade in the 1400m Ristretto Handicap (Race 7). The 4-year-old secured successive victories in Selangor earlier this year before finishing second by half a length to Gold Vase winner Kong Fu Panda in March. SUSPICIOUS MIND and BIG MONKEY, although infrequent winners, are proven at this level. MANDRAKE edged out BIG MONKEY by a short head at the last Penang meeting on May 26 and remains in good form, while BEAT THE LIGHT closed strongly in KL and aims for his first victory in this grade.
Race 7 Selections: (1) VILLAGE WARRIOR, (3) SUSPICIOUS MIND, (7) BIG MONKEY, (4) MANDRAKE
