CIZEN WARRIOR became the first Malaysian trained horse to win at Kranji when he scored a thrilling finish in the Class 4 - 1800m handicap today which was open to Penang based horses.

Ridden by James Winks, the six-year-old bay New Zealand gelding by Jeune out of the McGinty mare McGinty’s Gold came with a sustained run in the home stretch to beat GOLD MINT and LYMAN HALL who deadheated for second.

It was the sixth win in 36 starts for CIZEN WARRIOR who is trained by Cecil Robert.

With the ban on the movement of horses since 1999, Malaysia and Singapore has been racing on their own. In 1999, Singapore Turf Club also moved to their new home at Kranji.

The resumption of cross-border racing was initiated earlier this year and eventually kicked off in Penang last September when the Penang Turf Club opened six races to Singapore horses.

Singapore Turf Club reciprocated by staging six "Open Races" over the weekend and Penang horses contested five of them.

Yesterday, Penang trained ARMSTRONG was narrowly beaten into third spot in the Class 4 - 1400m sprint.