Fairway's Turf Online

Berry Bliss captures Penang Sprint Trophy

PENANG: Jul 30, 2023

Up-and-coming galloper BERRY BLISS announced his arrival at the big stage when he captured the Penang Sprint Trophy over 1400m here today, and gave Clyde Leck a grand send-off as the apprentice heads to Singapore to begin a new chapter of his career.

Leck has been granted a licence to ride at Kranji till the end of the season after capturing both the senior and apprentice titles in Malaysia last year.

Leck will be back riding in Malaysia whenever there is no racing at Kranji and he leaves in the best of form, winning three races here today.

The Penang Sprint Trophy has not been held since 2020 when HATTA gave trainer Frank Maynard his fourth win in the series.

Trainer Charles Leck won the race for the first time in 2917 with VOLCANIC GENERAL and in BERRY BLISS, he has a horse who is set to feature regularly in the big races.

The Charm Spirit gelding can sprint and stay, having won up to 1775m previously and was a creditable fifth to TELLER in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) last December.

After a five-month let-up, BERRY BLISS has been tested over sprints this season, scoring back-to-back wins over 1200m and 1100m before taking on his rivals in the Sprint Trophy.

BERRY BLISS jumped well and was amongst the early leaders. As the field settled down, it was WISHUPONASTAR who took up the running from ARC TRIUMPH with BERRY BLISS and KONG FU PANDA just behind them.

KONG FU PANDA raced up to a tiring WISHUPONASTAR making the turn into straight with BERRY BLISS set to pounce.

KONG FU PANDA hit the front at the 200m. BERRY BLISS then wore down the new leader in the final 100m to win by one and a quarter lengths. Tunku Gold Cup winner SAN ANDREAS battled to third placing, a further four lengths away.

BERRY BLISS has now won nine times in 17 starts since arriving in the country unraced.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1300M
11	MERRY BELL	B Ng	J Daniel	1
	(5 gr.nz.g Dalghar - Vesuvius by Thewayyouare)
3	Doge To The Moon	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
5	Bintang Timor	V Sivan	R Rueven	3
4	The Swan	S Shanmugam	S Anandan	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1100M
1	LUCKY THIRTYNINE	F Maynard	AM Aizat	1
	(8 b.a.g Choisir - Sestiere by Shamardal)
3	Ayaan	T Asogan	Z Khairil	2
2	Unshadowed General	C Leck	Clyde Leck	3
8	Legacy Fighter	K Ananthen	V Espindola	4

3	SALISBURY RACECOURSE TROPHY
3	CLASS 5 - 1100M
8	SPEEDY DEMON	V Sivan	R Rueven	1
	(9 b.a.g So You Think - Coralina by Dylan Thomas)
2	Zilfikar	S Hamilton	KP Lim	2
7	Bitcoin King	K Coetzee	AM Aizat	3
1	Perfect Brandz	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

4	DR LIM AH SOO TROPHY
4	RAPID STAKES A (SW) - 1300M
1	GAMESTONKS	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(6 b.nz.g Showcasing - Danasia by Danehill)
6	Chonky Potato	C Leck	A Suriya	2
5	Strong N Powerful	V Sivan	WW Cheah	3
4	Strong N Best	V Sivan	R Rueven	4

5	JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION CUP
5	CLASS 4 - 1200M
1	CHICAGO STAR	V Sivan	WW Cheah	1
	(6 b/br.a.g Exceed And Excel - Dream Play by Hennessy)
7	Joju	R Lines	L De Souza	2
13	Top Gun	S Dunderdale	S Anandan	3
2	Brutus	S Dunderdale	J Daniel	4

6	PINJARRA RACE CLUB TROPHY
6	CLASS 4 - 1700M
4	NORDIC GEM	S Hamilton	M Ewe	1
	(5 b.brz.g Courtier - Amore Bionda by Henrythenavigator)
3	Smart Racer	C Leck	A Suriya	2
6	Northern Star	HY Cheng	V Espindola	3
5	Mental	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

7	CLASS 5 - 1700M
1	SILENT PRINCE	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(8 b.nz.g Casino Prince - Silenzia Blue by Testa Rossa)
7	Big China	BT Lim	E Ferreira	2
3	Moment Of Justice	EP Tan	L De Souza	3
6	Soon You Think	K Coetzee	HS Gill	4

8	PERTH RACING TROPHY
8	CLASS 4 - 1400M
5	RADETZKY MARSCH	S Hamilton	HS Gill	1
	(5 b.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Nosecondprize by Pentire)
3	Nova Falcon	HY Cheng	AM Aizat	2
1	Ocean Law	S Cook	Z Syafifie	3
4	Ipoh Kaigeh	T Asogan	R Narendran	4

9	PENANG SPRINT TROPHY
9	OPEN (SW) - 1400M
6	BERRY BLISS	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(4 b.nz.g Charm Spirit - Star Class Eagle by Domesday)
13	Kong Fu Panda	KC Tiang	A Suriya	2
7	San Andreas	AB Abdullah	O Chavez	3
13	Golden King	HY Cheng	V Espindola	4

10	CLASS 5 - 1300M
4	GOLDEN SHOW	T Asogan	Z Khairil	1
	(6 b.a.g Golden Archer - Shovella by Shovhog)
10	Sunny Fighter	B Ng	L De Souza	2
9	Arrogate Achiever	C Leck	Clyde Leck	3
7	Big Monkey	B Ng	HS Gill	4

11	CLASS 5 - 1300M
5	SIVAJI ROCKET	T Asogan	Z Khairil	1
	(6 b.nz.g Showcasing - Just Nini by Pins)
1	Elite Saint	I Ismadi	J Daniel	2
10	Yes Bossy	K Coetzee	HS Gill	3
13	Power Express	K Coetzee	K Eirwan	4