Fairway's Turf Online

Black Thorn sets new course record in Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: Oct 16, 2022

BLACK THORN (Rueven Ravindra) coasting to victory in Selangor Gold
Cup - SLTC photo

Placed in three Cups in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all big races in the last two years, BLACK THORN finally have a big one to his name when he triumphed in the Selangor Gold Cup at Sungei Besi here today.

Ridden by bang-in-form jockey Rueven Ravindra who rode six winners in Ipoh last Sunday, the New Zealand gelding settled in a perfect third spot on the rails behind pacemaker EYE GUY with VIOLET in close attendance.

VIOLET headed off a rapidly tiring EYE GUY at the 400m with BLACK THORN pulled to the outside and poised for a run.

BLACK THORN collared VIOLET at the 200m and started to pull away. Just then, KONG FU PANDA also came into the picture and soon after LONELY BOY as well. But BLACK THORN had already stolen a run on them and went to the line 1 1/2 lengths clear.

KONG FU PANDA finished second and LONELY BOY, who was held up for a run momentarily at the 400m, had to settle for third.

In winning, BLACK THORN set a new course time of 1 min. 33.97 secs. The previous record of 1 min. 34.30 secs. was set by LISTEN in 2016.

BLACK THORN cost just NZ$6,000 as a two-year-old at the Ready To Run sale and landed in Malaysia unraced in 2017. From early on, the son of Redwood showed potential with four wins in his first eight starts.

In 2019, he proved himself to be one of the best in the country, finishing second in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m), second in the Coronation Cup (1600m) and third in the Penang Gold Cup (2000m).

BLACK THORN has been lightly races in the last year but proved still as good as ever although he is getting on in years.

As an eight-year-old in the first half of the year, the son of Redwood won three races and he was rested after winning his last start in a Supreme A event over 1600m here in June.

After that success, his connections rested the veteran galloper with today's race in mind. Today was his first outing as a nine-year-old.

"There is no issue with him," assistant trainer Rio Burnett explained about the four-month break in racing. "We just wanted to make sure that he makes the field on the basis of his last win. I think he is the best horse in the country."

For Rueven, his prediction for BLACK THORN after riding him for the first time and winning on the gelding back in June had come true.

"He can go far, perhaps picking up a big race later on" was what Rueven said then.

"I am just thankful I was given the ride again," he said.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1300M
9	ROCK ME EASY	SY Lim	A Suriya	1
	(8 b.nz.g Road To Rock - How Fantastique by Stravinsky)
2	Unshadowed General	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
1	Battlestar	S Hamilton	S Salee	3
4	Little Mermaid	KC Tiang	CC Wong	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1100M
5	SELANGOR BABY	SY Lim	SU Lim	1
	(6 b/br.am.g Niagara Causeway - Juncture by El Prado)
4	Perfect Brandz	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
10	Magic Player	HY Cheng	CC Wong	3
9	Super Line	V Sivan	Y Aify	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1300M
11	D'GREAT WIN	B Ng	J Low	1
	(7 blk.a.g Rothesay - All Saints Girl by Mossman)
4	El Macho	HY Cheng	WH Kok	2
1	Mewtwo	S Siva	S Shazmin	3
2	Shangani	F Maynard	A Nazir	4

4	CLASS 4 - 1200M
12	DELAWARE	SY Lim	A Suriya	1
	(6 ch.a.g Shooting To Win - Iberian Miss by Rock Of Gibraltar)
13	Ironclad	R Lines	WW Cheah	2
4	Amazing Choice	F Maynard	WH Kok	3
9	Doctor Ginger	SY Lim	SU Lim	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1200M
7	SUPER HAPPY	KC Tiang	CC Wong	1
	(4 b.a.g Press Statement - Full Bloom by Snippets)
10	Inherit	HY Cheng	H Haikal	2
2	Dragon Ryker	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	3
12	Wishuponastar	SY Lim	J Low	4

6	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
8	LION KING	HY Cheng	CC Wong	1
	(4 ch.a.g All Too Hard - Rock Me Baby by Rock Of Gibraltar)
1	Suspicious Mind	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
4	James Bond	HY Cheng	H Arif	3
6	Watermelon	KC Tiang	J Low	4

7	SELANGOR GOLD CUP
7	OPEN (SW) - 1600M
10	BLACK THORN	SY Lim	R Rueven	1
	(9 b.nz.g Redwood - Veva Girl by Fastnet Rock)
9	Kong Fu Panda	KC Tiang	CC Wong	2
1	Lonely Boy	M Sukri	Y Aify	3
3	Shanghai Nights	HY Cheng	WH Kok	4

8	CLASS 4 - 1400M
8	SHINE SHINE	KC Tiang	M Ewe	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Makfi - Lupara by Encosta De Lago)
2	Flaming Phoenix	KC Tiang	CC Wong	2
9	Clarton Treasure	HY Cheng	J Low	3
5	Star Talent	R Lines	WW Cheah	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1400M
2	SAN ANDREAS	AB Abdullah	M Ewe	1
	(6 b.a.g Smart Missile - Shamardal Gold by Shamardal)
9	General Qin	KC Tiang	CC Wong	2
11	Lupin	MW Teh	J Low	3
10	Golden Horse	WC Lim	AK Lim	4

10	JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY
10	STAYERS STAKES B (SW) - 1700M
9	RESURGENCE	S Siva	R Rueven	1
	(6 b.nz.g Proisir - Eleanor Coup by Daggers Drawn)
8	Ragnar	CC Ooi	S Uzair	2
6	Touch The Clouds	HY Cheng	CC Wong	3
5	Elite Remarkable	V Sivan	S Shazmin	4

11	CLASS 3 - 1250M
1	CHEVAL RAPIDE	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	1
	(9 b.ir.h Exceed And Excel - Much Faster by Fasliyev)
7	Resolute	S Siva	R Rueven	2
6	Final Touch	HY Cheng	H Haikal	3
2	Scooby Dooby Doo	MW Teh	CC Wong	4

12	CLASS 5 - 1700M
4	MIGHT IS RIGHT	AB Abdullah	WH Kok	1
	(9 br.nz.g Savabeel - Apollo Treasure by Apollo)
1	Back To The Future	HS Lim	AK Lim	2
12	Shanghai Captain	R Lines	SU Lim	3
10	Success Street	S Cook	S Uzair	4