Fairway's Turf Online

Kruger on the upgrade with hattrick

KUALA LUMPUR: Apr 2, 2022

KRUGER clearing away from EMPEROR TAIZONG - SLTC photo

It had been a struggle (to find his right form), but KRUGER has struck a bright patch since his breakthrough win last October.

Jockey Rueven Ravindra, who partnered the son of Choisir to that maiden win, was back in the saddle when the gelding completed a hattrick for his sixth win in his last eight starts at Sungei Besi here today.

KRUGER, who cost A$120,000 as a yearling, started his career on a promising note when he finished third in his debut in Singapore.

But after five subsequent disappointing runs, the Australian gelding was was transferred to Shanmugam Subramaniam.

However, the struggle to find his form continued in his first six runs under the Ipoh trainer, with just one placing to show. Then, everything clicked following seven months on the sidelines last year, in part due to the Covid-19 break.

After winning his last two runs in Class 4, KRUGER defied a promotion when he came from just off the pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the Class 3 - 1400m handicap today.

"The horse keeps on improving and has the potential to go far," said Shanmugam. "Basically we have been doing the same thing with him since his runaway win (by 5 3/4 lengths) last start."

"The pace was quite fast today and we managed to settle nicely behind the pace," said Rueven who has now ridden him twice for two wins.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1250M
4	RAINBOW FISH	R Lines	L De Souza	1
	(9 ch.nz.g Castledale - Run Roxy Run by Rock Of Gibraltar)
1	Wildfire	HY Cheng	SU Lim	2
2	All White	C Leck	Clyde Leck	3
3	Gigante Del Andre	SY Lim	R Rueven	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1250M
5	MY MONEY	S Hamilton	L De Souza	1
	(7 br.nz.g He's Remarkable - Seek A Fortune by Kaapstad)
6	Overlord	F Maynard	R Rueven	2
1	Kubera's Chief	SY Lim	M Ekdihar	3
4	New Garden	R Lines	WW Cheah	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1250M
4	LEADING CELLIST	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(9 b.e.f Hat Trick - Tell It As It Is by Chester House)
1	Zilfikar	S Hamilton	WW Cheah	2
6	Mighty Phoenix	V Sivan	R Rueven	3
9	Song Kid	R Lines	L De Souza	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1600M
5	ATTENTION	S Siva	L De Souza	1
	(7 b.a.g Trusting - Hearts For Lilly by Lion Heart)
4	Presto	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
10	La Familia	AB Abdullah	W Faizal	3
1	Little Master	R Lines	S Ruzaini	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1300M
1	RESOLUTE	S Siva	HS Gill	1
	(5 b.a.g Dissident - Sonota Queen by Commands)
2	Guilty Pleasures	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
7	Moongate Five	R Lines	WW Cheah	3
8	Pratt Street	F Maynard	Y Aify	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1300M
5	SAN ANDREAS	S Dunderdale	M Lukman	1
	(5 b.a.g Smart Missile - Shamardal Gold by Shamardal)
4	Elite General	BT Lim	R Nuqman	2
1	Ebraz	AB Abdullah	HS Gill	3
2	Galileo's Approach	HY Cheng	R Rueven	4

7	CLASS 4 - 1300M
1	PEER GYNT	HY Cheng	HK Cheng	1
	(9 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Arche by Danasinga)
7	Wishuponastar	BT Lim	HS Gill	2
9	Nivisible	R Lines	S Ruzaini	3
8	Amazing Choice	F Maynard	Y Aify	4

8	CLASS 3 - 1400M
7	KRUGER	S Shanmugam	R Rueven	1
	(5 b.a.g Choisir - Gorgeous Miss by Shanardal)
3	Emperor Taizong	KC Tiang	J Low	2
5	Mr Hanks	V Sivan	J De Souza	3
6	Mr Hopkins	F Maynard	CK Khaw	4

9	OPEN NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
1	SKYFALL	AB Abdullah	Y Aify	1
	(5 br.nz.g Sacred Falls - Thorn Star by Thorn Park)
4	Temptations	C Leck	J De Souza	2
5	Golden Cup	HY Cheng	J Low	3
7	Najwan	AB Abdullah	W Faizal	4

10	CLASS 4 - 1100M
5	ME NO MARSH MELLOW	V Sivan	M Ekdihar	1
	(7 b.a.g Gingerbread Man - Rich Resource by Chanteclair)
6	Mise En Garde	R Lines	S Sia	2
2	Spade Of Ace	WC Lim	M Lukman	3
7	Tilsworth Mick	F Maynard	L De Souza	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1100M
9	FIRST PRECINCT	S Dunderdale	J De Souza	1
	(9 br.a.g More Than Ready - Unspoken Choice by Giant's Causeway)
8	Star Invincible	HY Cheng	KC Tham	2
3	Ningaloo	WC Lim	SU Lim	3
10	Caorunn	S Hamilton	R Rueven	4

12	CLASS 4 - 1100M
4	TRINITY GENERAL	SY Lim	M Ekdihar	1
	(5 b/br.a.h My Admiration - Double Fun by Dubleo)
1	Nova Vocal	SY Lim	S Sia	2
9	Terms Of Reference	S Hamilton	CK Khaw	3
5	Delaware	BT Lim	AR Raiyan	4