PENANG:  Dec 30, 2023

Tham Kin Chong brought the 2023 racing season to a rousing conclusion with a personal double "first" here today.

The jockey achieved his first four-timer (his fourth winner via a successful objection) and to top it all, he landed his first Penang Gold Cup on CHEVAL BLANC.

This was not Tham's first Group 1 success as he had won the Coronation Cup on ELITE REMARKABLE last year but he has partnered CHEVAL BLANC in his three runs — and three wins — since the grey moved to Malaysia to join trainer Frank Maynard during the year.

CHEVAL BLANC won first-up over 1200m and at Sungai Besi last week, he won again over 1300m, drawing away from his rivals in the concluding stages.

With the two runs over sprints under his belt, the eight-year-old proved on top of his game over the longer (2000m) trip of the Cup today. (He finished on board four times in black-type races up to 2414m in Ireland).

CHEVAL BLANC jumped well from his wide barrier (12) and quickly settled in second spot right on the outside of the early leader GOLDEN PEACH.

But CHEVAL BLANC was travelling so well that Tham allowed his mount to surge to the front making the turn into the back straight.

CHEVAL BLANC led narrowly into the straight with GOLDEN KING moving up second on his outside. RAGNAR, another winner at Sungai Besu last week, also loomed into the picture approaching the 200m.

The two leaders drifted out in the final 200m and RAGNAR switched to their inside for the run to the post. GOLDEN KING was momentarily in front at the 100m but CHEVAL BLANC raised another effort and came back right on the line to win by a short head. Third was RAGNAR.

"It was a great result and it really meant a lot to me to win my fifth Penang Gold Cup," said Maynard who was previously successful with NEW KUALA DIPANG (2007), YASTRZEMSKI (2014), VALUE OF JUSTICE (2017) and SACRED EMPIRE (2019).

"CHEVAL BLANC has been a great horse for me and he keeps on improving, doing things that others just can't seem to do. Looking forward what he can do next season."

"He was very strong from the start and after we got the front, I got him to relax and run at a nice pace," said Tham.

"He changed strides making the last turn and we tried to move on from the 600m. When GOLDEN KING came up to us in the straight, he refused to be beaten, showing what a big heart he has.

"Many thanks to the owners (RC and Team Cheval Stable) and trainer for trusting me with this horse and winning a Penang Gold Cup."

Tham's day started on a superb note when he won the first two races on BIG DOCTOR and TRUDY.

Then the Cup win. The icing on the cake came in the race after the Cup when he was beaten a nose on MODRIC but successfully protested against the winner BIG MONKEY for interference. MODRIC was promoted to first.