PENANG,  24 December 2006

CHINA ROCK became the first horse to win the RM150,000 Anniversary Cup twice when he triumphed in the Class 1 - 1700m handicap here today.

The five-year-old brown/grey Australian gelding by Thunder Gulch from the Danehill mare Duotine has not tasted success again since his handsome win last year, until today.

Meanwhile, Frank Maynard is just one win away from winning the trainer's premiership title when he scored two wins to add to the treble he achieved yesterday.

Maynard was handed an unexpected "win" when MYSTICAL, first past post in the opening event, was disqualified after the rider weighed in 2kgs less than he weighed out.

This results in the Maynard trained SMART BABE  (6 ch.nz.m Made Of Gold - Commonplace by Whiskey Road) being promoted to first place.

Maynard wound up the day with JERAM FLAME (5 ch.nz.g Mellifont - Dahleen by Dahar) to bring his tally to 47 for the season, one behind leading trainer Lee Yoke Bill who has had no entry for the meeting.

Maynard has two more racing days next weekend to claim the title but he could have wrap it up today hot favourite JERAM MASTER was beaten into second place by the fancied JOKER GENERAL in the Da Ma Cai Stakes (Class 2 - 1200m).