Golden Rainbow bags Tunku Gold Cup

KUALA LUMPUR,  30 January 2006

GOLDEN RAINBOW gave trainer Abdul Rahim his first classic success when he came with a sustained run to defeat FREE SPIRIT in a thrilling finish to the RM500,000 Tunku Gold Cup over 1200m at Sungei Besi here today.

The pair went after STREET TALK, who kept ace with the front running LABU LABU early and shot to the lead at the top of the straght, at the 200m and drew away to fight out the finish with GOLDEN RAINBOW (5 ch.a.g Danewin - Cafe Opera by Lunchtime) prevailing by a short head.

STREET TALK, who was racing after a lengthy spell, held on for third while SCENIC SEA flashed home fourth.

GOLDEN RAINBOW, who raced for two seasons in Australia for two wins at Warwick Farm and Newcastle, had now two wins and two seconds in as many starts in Malaysia.

It was the second win for jockey Richard Lim in the Tunku Gold Cup, after having won on AFTER ME PLEASE in 2002 when the Cup was staged over 2000m for the last time.

South African jockey Martin Wepner, the sole expatriate jockey licenced for the 2006 season in Malaysia, took riding honours with a splendid hattrick, winning on WIN WITH HONOUR, KAWAU GOLD and CLARTON SUPER.

The day’s ended on a shock note when SOVERIGN EXPRESS (6 ch.nz.g Oregon - Siren by Crested Wave) flew home wide out to win Race 8 to pay RM252 for a win on course.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 MAIDEN - 1600M

1

 Triple Boom S Liew K Eirwan

1

4

 Ikhlash J Breukelen Samsir

2

5

 Jeram Super Maynard Sofhan

3

7

 Bangkok Star Danis Wepner

4

2

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1800M

4

 Win With Honour R Lines Wepner

1

7

 Golden Ranger Maynard Sofhan

2

8

 Playing Tennent Saifudin

3

10

 Real Quick M Breukeken Ismadi

4

3

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1800M

9

 Cizen Tycoon Robert Salee

1

5

 Jeram Galaxy Maynard Sofhan

2

7

 Smoke 'N' Thunder R Lines Y F Leong

3

2

 Kiss Me Honey  McGillivray L Ho

4

4

 CLASS 5 (HOME BASED) - 1800M

8

 Kawau Gold Osman Wepner

1

6

 Louis Thirteen S B Tan Chavez

2

5

 Smart Mission S B Tan Sofhan

3

2

 On Golden Wings Osman R Lim

4

5

 CLASS 5 (MALAYSIAN BREDS) - 1100M

1

 Keep Rising S B Tan Anandan

1

3

 Panther Power S B Tan Chavez

2

2

 Inspiration V Nathan J Nizam

3

7

 Lady Wu F Nathan Sofhan

4

6

 TUNKU GOLD CUP, OPEN (WFA) - 1200M

10

 Golden Rainbow A Rahim R Lim

1

8

 Free Spirit K L Chong Wepner

2

1

 Street Talk Sukri Aify

3

5

 Scenic Sea McGillivray Chavez

4

7

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M

3

 Clarton Super S H Tan Wepner

1

8

 Raftaar R Lines Saifudin

2

5

 Tycoon Forever M Breukelen Djulkifli

3

6

 Diamond Ferry P K Leong Chuah

4

8

 CLASS 4, DIV 4 - 1200M

10

 Sovereign Express Wong K W Leong

1

3

 Stiletto Silence J Breukelen Din Azis

2

9

 Green Light McGillivray Chuah

3

2

 In Bloom W Liew Sofhan

4