Fairway's Turf Online

Black Thorn survives protests in dramatic win

KUALA LUMPUR: Jun 26, 2022

BLACK THORN staged a dramatic from last-to-first victory in the Supreme A set-weight event over 1600m at Sungei Besi here today, then had to survive a double objection to earn his second success in the top flight.

When current trainer Lim Shung You took over the son of Redwood in October 2017, the gelding had won just once (in Class 5) in five starts.

BLACK THORN and Lim hit it off in spectacular fashion with a winning hattrick in Class 5 and 4 in his first three runs under his new trainer.

But the gelding had to wait more than a year for his next success in a Class 3 race in 2019. From then on, the New Zealand grew by leaps and bounds. That year, he finished second to D'GREAT TIMING in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) and third to SACRED EMPIRE in the Penang Gold Cup (2000m).

BLACK THORN had just two runs in 2020 and managed a win early last year. He has picked up three wins already this season.

Ridden by Rueven Ravindra for the first time today, BLACK THORN was last in the early stages in the eight-horse field. He was still some way back from the pacemaker WHITE HOOF BIRD at the top of the straight.

WHITE HOOF BIRD was tackled by ARC TRIUMPH on his outside at the 150m with BLACK THORN getting a dream run on his inside. BLACK THORN hang out momentarily but quickly straightened and soon cleared away to win by 1 1/4 lengths. ARC TRIUMPH finished second, half a length ahead of WHITE HOOF BIRD.

After the race, objections were lodged by jockey HS Gill, rider of WHITE HOOF BIRD, against BLACK THORN and ARC TRIUMPH, for alleged interference in the final 100m. They were dismissed.

An objection was also lodged by Jai Shankar, rider of ARC TRIUMPH, against BLACK THORN for alleged interference at about the 100m. This was also dismissed.

"He is a small horse with a big heart," said Rueven. "It was not an easy ride. We had to come from behind and then find room inside and outside. He can go far, perhaps picking up a big race later on."

"Rueven did a good job as the horse tried hang out but got it under control for an easy win in the end," said Lim.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1100M
6	MIGHTY PHOENIX	V Sivan	R Nuqman	1
	(7 b.a.g Myboycharlie - La Vedetta by Danehill Dancer)
4	Dark Wizard	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	2
7	Lucky Sixtysix	F Maynard	MM Firdaus	3
2	Sand Bank	S Dunderdale	L De Souza	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1100M
8	AUSSIE EAGLE	S Siva	L De Souza	1
	(9 b.nz.g Sufficient - So Take That by Align)
1	Mise En Garde	R Lines	S Sia	2
10	Selangor Baby	BT Lim	HS Gill	3
4	Winner Number One	SY Lim	MM Firdaus	4

3	CLASS 5 - 1100M
3	OUD WOOD	K Ananthen	MM Firdaus	1
	(4 b.ir.g Epaulette - Fragrant Air by El Prado)
4	Speedy Demon	V Sivan	R Nuqman	2
7	Atlantic Arrow	R Lines	Y Aify	3
9	Big G	SY Lim	A Suriya	4

4	CLASS 4 - 1200M
3	HANDSOME BOY	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	1
	(5 b.nz.g Makfi - Our Kismet by Zabeel)
9	Shangani	F Maynard	A Najib	2
7	Shine Shine	KC Tiang	MM Firdaus	3
4	Good Fight	S Dunderdale	R Rueven	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1200M
5	NO FUN NO GAIN	R Lines	Y Aify	1
	(6 b.nz.g Pins - J'Lo by Unbridled's Song)
8	Golden Peak	AB Abdullah	S Sia	2
2	Resolute	S Siva	R Rueven	3
7	Star Talent	R Lines	L De Souza	4

6	CLASS 3 - 1250M
2	GAMESTONKS	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(5 b.nz.g Showcasing - Danasia by Danehill)
1	Mat Smart	MW Teh	M Ekdihar	2
6	Skyfall	AB Abdullah	J Shankar	3
4	Exdream	K Coetzee	HS Gill	4

7	CLASS 4 - 1500M
3	GENERAL QIN	KC Tiang	R Nuqman	1
	(5 b.a.g Hampton Court - She's Warrego by Giant's Causeway)
2	Ready To Sevenluck	R Lines	S Sia	2
10	Attention	S Siva	L De Souza	2
7	Georgetown	F Maynard	Y Aify	4
	**Deadheat for 2nd

8	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1600M
2	SHYLOCK	K Coetzee	HS Gill	1
	(4 b.nz.g Zacinto - Prompt Payment by In The Wings)
1	Fantastic	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
4	Dark Knight	K Ananthen	S Ruzaini	3
5	Golden Touch	AB Abdullah	J Shankar	4

9	SUPREME A (SW) - 1600M
8	BLACK THORN	SY Lim	R Rueven	1
	(5 br.a.g Written Tycoon - Wantonly by Al Maher)
6	Arc Triumph	HY Cheng	J Shankar	2
3	White Hoof Bird	BT Lim	HS Gill	3
7	Robbery Son	S Siva	S Ruzaini	4

10	CLASSES 4 & 5 - 2000M
2	ELITE REMARKABLE	V Sivan	M Ekdihar	1
	(7 br.arg.h Sebi Halo - Baaltis by Incurable Optimist)
1	Shoqeet	AB Abdullah	S Ruzaini	2
8	Ghost Bay	BT Lim	R Nuqman	3
5	Moment Of Justice	MP Thwaites	S Shazmin	4

11	CLASS 5 - 1400M
4	QIJI DIAMOND	S Deva Raj	J Shankar	1
	(5 b/br.a.g Kuroshio - Loma Diamonds by Artie Schiller)
1	Naughty Kid	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
7	Fardus	M Sukri	R Rueven	3
10	Rule The World	K Coetzee	HS Gill	4

12	CLASS 5 - 1400M
1	TILSWORTH MICK	F Maynard	A Najib	1
	(6 b.e.g Coash House - Lady Bonanova by Haatef)
6	Orion	R Lines	L De Souza	2
3	Travis	S Dunerdale	S Ruzaini	3
10	Dawnbreaker	K Ananthen	M Ekdihar	4