The weight-for-age event, the richest sprint in Malaysia, is among six races which are open to Singapore trained horses during the four-day Penang meeting starting next Saturday, marking the resumption of cross-border racing after a lapse of six years.

The entry of NINETYFIVE EMPEROR, QUE EXPRESION, MAGICAL CIGAR, GRAND CANYON and LIM’S CLASSIC will this year’s Sprint Trophy the most exciting yet in the series.

NINETYFIVE EMPEROR (6 ch.a.g Rory’s Jester - Entente Cordiale by Jackson Square) holds the Singapore record of ten consecutive wins and his 14 victories from 23 starts included the Kranji’s top sprint, the Lion City Cup (1200m) last May.

Charles Leck, who trains NINETYFIVE EMPEROR, has also entered MAGICAL CIGAR and GRAND CANYON.

MAGICAL CIGAR (5 b.ir.g Bahhare - Break For Peace by Brief Truce) is an vastly-improved galloper who has won five of nine starts this year.

GRAND CANYON (6 ch.a.g Thunder Gulch - Rebisca by Marscay) is a winner of eight races, one of which was achieved in Ipoh last November at the beginning of a brief three-race campaign in Malaysia. In his next start, he finished second to FLYING DIAMOND in the Coronation Cup (1600m).

The Patrick Shaw-trained QUE EXPRESION (8 b.arg.g Lode - Quebramar by Compatible) may be past his prime but he can still pack a gallop. Most of his nine victories were achieved in 2002 and 2003 when he won the MRA Cup (1400m) and the Lion City Cup (1200m).

LIM’S CLASSIC (6 b.a.g Dehere - Augustine by Black Zephyr) became the first Singapore trained horse since COLONIAL CHIEF in 1989 to win a race overseas. That was achieved in March this year when he scored in his Dubai debut over 1300m.

The John Meagher trained galloper has been a prolific money-spinner, winning 10 of 28 starts, although the big races at Kranji has eluded him so far.