Fairway's Turf Online

First Venture off the mark in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1, 2010

FIRST VENTURE, who had to take 17 months off after returning lame in his last start in February last year, has returned to racing with a 'bang' with a narrow victory in the Da Ma Cai Stakes (Class 4 - 1200m) at Sungei Besi here today.

Placed once in four starts in Australia, the six-year-old found one to beat in his first two starts in Singapore which were followed by two unplaced runs.

Transferred to trainer Cecil Robert in Malaysia, FIRST VENTURE (King Of Danes - In Joke by Rory's Jester) was due to make his Malaysian debut in August last year but a further setback meant he had to wait a further 12 months before making his bow.

In the end, the long wait paid off when, ridden by Azhar Ismail, FIRST VENTURE led all the way, fighting on gamely when challenged by two-time winner HUNGARIAN to win by a neck.

FIRST VENTURE was the second leg of a double for Azhar who earlier on scored on GOOD WINNER (Danzero - Zaraffa by Canny Lad). The double brought his tally for the season to 35, just three behind leading jockey Noel Callow who had a double yesterday.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	CLASS 5 - 1200M
5	Zambucca	Robert	Salee	1
12	Bring In Fortunes	S B Tan	N Shahrul	2
9	Great Partners	K Coetzee	Azhar	3
14	Shen Jiang	K H Ng	Sivan	4

2	CLASS 4 - 1200M
2	Golden Ball	McGillivray	K Yazid	1
10	Smart Venture	R Lines	N Callow	2
3	Unimaginable	T Yeoh	Woodworth	3
9	Royal Joy	Sukri	Aify	4

3	CLASS 3 - 1200M
10	Tellnoone	P S Kumaran	L L Tai	1
4	Line Account	Thwaites	Goon	2
13	Red Warrior	R Lines	J Low	3
5	Slipa Vista	McGillivray	K Yazid	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1600M
5	Good Winner	K Coetzee	Azhar	1
6	Snaring Tiger	Seet	K T Cheng	2
14	Wonderful Tycoon	Sukri	J De Souza	3
1	Stayiwill	B T Lim	H S Gill	4

5	MAIDEN - 1400M
1	Bukit Tinggi	T Yeoh	A Nawawi	1
4	Bukit Raya	T Yeoh	S Rosmizan	2
5	New Power	Wong	Saifudin	3
6	Joker Best	B T Lim	H S Gill	4

6	CLASS 3 - 1200M
12	Blue Spirit	J H Tan	Woodworth	1
9	My Diamond	McGillivray	Saifudin	2
14	Samara	B T Lim	H S Gill	3
6	Fantastic Gift	Sukri	J Low	4

7	DA MA CAI STAKES, CLASS 4 - 1200M
4	First Venture	Robert	Azhar	1
2	Hungarian	A Selvaratnam	J De Souza	2
3	Trusted Friend	P S Kumaran	J Yeoh	3
7	All Rise	J Tan	Woodworth	4

8	CLASS 4 - 1200M
6	Jeram Future	T Yeoh	J Low	1
2	Gravy Time	Brink	N Callow	2
5	Best Honour	Robert	Salee	3
8	Magical Idol	J Tan	Goon	4