Fairway's Turf Online

Xena hunts down rivals to win first trophy

KUALA LUMPUR: Aug 28, 2022

Rested after running second to runaway winner AWESOME STORM in the Tunku Gold Cup four months ago, XENA made a triumphant return to racing by winning the Malaysia National Day Trophy at Sungei Besi here today.

Despite her absence on the racetrack, punters still sent her out favourite in the Metro A event over 1200m, ahead of VIOLET (who finished third in the Cup) in the betting. There were spot on.

Ruzaini Supien, who had scored four times on the mare previously including a hattrick last year, parked the New Zealand six-year-old right behind the pace set by TOPMOST on settling down.

VIOLET, who kept company with the leader most of the way, took a slight lead after the 400m with XENA poised to strike behind him but struggling to get into top gear at this stage.

XENA eventually got going and surged in front inside the final 200m. Just then GINGERELLA loomed large on her outside. XENA, however, did best in the closing stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths. VIOLET and GINGERELLA deadheated for second placing.

It's the seventh win in 23 starts for the New Zealand mare who landed unraced in Malaysia.

"XENA has always done well whenever I ride her in the races," said Ruzaini. "She is very genuine and improves every time I ride her. She is a Cup material."

"She is a very honest horse and I am a huge fan of her sire Proisir," said trainer Cheng Han Yong. "I am grateful to the owners who have supported me for the past five years."

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

1	PETRONAS TWIN TOWER STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1700M
4	COMMODORE LINCOLN	AB Abdullah	M Ekdihar	1
	(11 br.nz.g Iffraaj - Zazonali by Zabeel)
7	M Seven	WC Lim	AK Lim	2
8	First Passthepost	MP Thwaites	S Shazmin	3
9	Gallant Black	SY Lim	MM Firdaus	4

2	MOUNT KINABALU STAKES
2	CLASS 5 - 1700M
1	BIG KING	BT Lim	R Nuqman	1
	(5 ch.a.g Street Boss - Embark by Choisir)
3	D'Great Swift	R Lines	S Ruzaini	2
4	Rule The World	K Coetzee	HS Gill	3
8	Rise Of The Legend	HY Cheng	KC Tham	4

3	PUTRAJAYA STAKES
3	CLASS 4 - 1700M
9	RESURGENCE	S Siva	R Rueven	1
	(6 b.nz.g Proisir - Eleanor Coup by Daggers Drawn)
6	Leopard Eclipse	F Maynard	A Suriya	2
10	King Ravana	PK Leong	HS Gill	3
3	Show Hand	L Moy	I Fikri	4

4	TIOMAN ISLAND STAKES
4	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1600M
1	ALSHEIKH	AB Abdullah	AK Lim	1
	(5 b.nz.g Tavistock - Treasure The Cross by Cape Cross)
8	I Love You	HY Cheng	R Nuqman	2
4	Life In Sixty-One	SY Lim	Y Aify	3
3	Counter Attack	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

5	CAMERON HIGHLANDS STAKES
5	METRO A (SW) - 1600M
1	LONELY BOY	M Sukri	Y Aify	1
	(6 br.e.g Lethal Force - Havelovewilltravel by Holy Roman Emperor)
4	Arc Triumph	HY Cheng	SU Lim	2
6	Semantan Prince	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	3
2	D'Great Timing	R Lines	AK Lim	4

6	LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE STAKES
6	CLASS 3 - 1400M
8	FLYING DURUMI	R Lines	S Ruzaini	1
	(4 b.am.h Noble Mission - Rena by More Than Ready)
9	Trinity General	KC Tiang	R Nuqman	2
1	Sacred Guru	F Maynard	A Nazir	3
11	Lim's Sphere	L Moy	I Fikri	4

7	MALAYSIA NATIONAL DAY TROPHY
7	METRO A (SW) - 1200M
5	XENA	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	1
	(6 b.nz.m Proisir - Lady Illicit by Sir Percy)
1	Violet	BT Lim	R Nuqman	2
2	Gingerella	MW Teh	M Ekdihar	2
11	Topmost	HY Cheng	HS Gill	4
	*Deadheat or 2nd

8	BATU CAVES STAKES
8	CLASS 5 - 1100M
12	MISE EN GARDE	R Lines	WK Lee	1
	(9 b.a.m Dream Ahead - Dawn To Dusk by Son Of Briartic)
7	Monday	BT Lim	HS Gill	2
4	Japan Captain	WC Lim	MM Firdaus	3
8	Big G	SY Lim	KP Lim	4

9	MERDEKA SQUARE STAKES
9	OPEN NOVICE (SW) - 1100M
3	MR X	AB Abdullah	AK Lim	1
	(5 b.nz.g Swiss Ace - Show Exhibit by Danehill)
7	Waimea	L Moy	S Uzair	2
9	Magic Sixty-One	SY Lim	KC Tham	3
4	Golden King	HY Cheng	S Ruzaini	4

10	PENANG HILL STAKES
10	CLASS 5 - 1100M
2	BIG BAD MAMA	WC Lim	M Ekdihar	1
	(6 b.a.m Gingerbread Man - Jestervale by Real Jester)
7	Kubera's Chief	SY Lim	R Nuqman	2
4	Fantastic Eclipse	F Maynard	A Suriya	3
1	Guilty Pleasures	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

11	THE A'FAMOSA FORTRESS STAKES
11	CLASS 5 - 1100M
2	LUPIN	MW Teh	HS Gill	1
	(5 b.a.g Gingerbread Man - Deemed Princeless by Anabaa)
7	Good Warrior	M Sukri	SU Lim	2
5	Red Symphony	MP Thwaites	S Shizmin	3
1	O'Reilly Bay	AB Abdullah	KP Lim	4

12	KL TOWER STAKES
12	CLASS 5 - 1100M
8	SPIN FIRE	MW Teh	S Uzair	1
	(12 b.a.g Holy Roman Emperor - Centafit by Centaine)
12	Trinity Flying	SY Lim	KP Lim	2
9	Kipeh	V Sivan	WK Lee	3
5	Wildfire	HY Cheng	MM Firdaus	4