Former Singapore galloper
KELANTAN, rejuvenated after a change of scenery, bagged his biggest prize in
Malaysia when he triumphed in the RM300,000 Sultan Gold Vase over the 1100m
straight course here today.
KELANTAN was a promising
three-year-old in 2006 when he won three races at Kranji, including the
final leg of the Three-Year-Old challenge series. But his form took a
nose-dive after that win and was shipped across the causeway.
Under the care of Malcolm
Thwaites, KELANTAN (Cape Cross - Stever House by El Gran Senor) has
performed superbly against the best company in Malaysia, picking up three
wins and four placings in eight starts thus far.
A third to TRIPLE LUCK in
the MRA Cup in March served as a notice that he was regaining his best form.
He then bagged the Sports Toto Trophy in June and was truly on his way to
the very top.
Today, despite being drawn in the unfavourable No. 1 barrier over the
straight course, KELANTAN, partnered by Macau jockey Chan Cheok Fong,
triumphed over by half-a-length MAHAU (Yeats - Opal Thief by Ron Bon), who
had finished fourth in this race two years ago.
TRIPLE HAPPY (Bletchley
Park - Red Marya by Red Anchor), fourth in the Coronation Cup last year but
set a different target this time, came home third in the 19-strong field.
KELANTAN was the second leg of a superb treble
for the Thwaites- Chan partnership as they also won with BAJA KING (Swiss
Yodeler - Rosiano by Rubiano) and LUCKY BEAUTY (Made Of Gold - Brumaire by
Soviet Lad).
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