New trainer Gillespie saddles first winner

PENANG,  May 1, 2010

Young Irish trainer Thomas Gillespie, who was granted a MRA licence at the start of the season and had just one runner before today, saddled his first winner when POLAR GIRL saluted the judges in a Class 5 - 1200m sprint here today.

It was only the second runner for the son of former top Irish jockey Declan Gillespie who rode more than 1,000 winners including the Irish 2000 Guineas, Irish Oaks, Irish St Leger and Coronation Stakes.

The younger Gillespie joined his father's stables after school, and has worked with Irish Jim Bolger, spent time learning the trade in Turkey, Australia and even had a stint with Malcolm Thwaites in Singapore.

Gillespie only took over POLAR GIRL (Becquerel - Gold Lass by Rubiton) recently, after the Malaysian mare had gone through 22 months without success, and the six-year-old quickly regained the form that took her to two wins in 2008.

Ridden by leading jockey Noel Callow, POLAR GIRL, who cost just RM10,000 at the National Premier Sale, relished the soft track condition to win easily by 1 3/4 lengths.

Callow went on to complete a double when successful on THE REAL THING (Traditionally - Quarry by Sky Chase) in the final event, bring his haul to eight winners in the last race days.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 CLASS 5 - 1700M

6

 Speed Happy Noordin J Low

1

11

 Tiger Son T Yeoh Woodworth

2

1

 You're My Sunshine Sukri Anandan

3

2

 Royal Knight J Tan Sani

4

2

 CLASS 5 - 1700M

7

 Fly Over McGillivray K Yazid

1

6

 Zhen Dao J H Tan Aify

2

3

 Easy R Lines N Callow

3

13

 Stay The Cause S H Tan Saifudin

4

3

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

7

 Turningold S H Tan Saifudin

1

1

 Shall We Talk Tiang Sani

2

3

 City Fighter Noordin S Mutaza

3

9

 Rendezvous Tiang A Nawawi

4

4

 CLASS 5 - 1200M

5

 Polar Girl T Gillespie N Callow

1

15

 Fishing Wong H S Gill

2

11

 That's Fast P K Leong B Tai

3

8

 Still Water F Nathan K Y Yap

4

5

 CLASS 4 (BANDED 39-49) - 1100M

4

 Rich Man's World K L Chong K T Cheng

1

1

 Dumar Thwaites N Callow

2

6

 Lim Lim B T Lim L L Tai

3

11

 Super Express J Tan S H Oh

4

6

 CLASS 4 (BANDED 39-49) - 1100M

6

 Golden Ball McGillivray K Yazid

1

2

 New Gold Dragon T Yeoh J Low

2

3

 Makemeamillion B T Lim H S Gill

3

8

 Fashion Thunder Danis N Callow

4

7

CLASS 4 (BANDED 39-49) - 1100M

8

 Cizen Supreme Robert S Sandana

1

12

 Sparkling Rainbow J Tan S H Lee

2

2

 Xin Dong Warrior J H Tan Aify

3

10

 Captain Sequalo Wong Yusri

4

8

 DA MA CAI STAKES,  CLASS 3 - 1400M

9

 Sure We Can J Tan Woodworth

1

4

 Bintang Terang Osman Aslam

2

14

 Global Nomad E Breukelen Salee

3

1

 Prince Gold E Breukelen S Mutaza

4

9

 CLASS 4 (BANDED 39-49) - 1700M

2

 The Real Thing R Lines N Callow

1

4

 Jeram Attack T Yeoh S Rosmizan

2

3

 Twelve Fairies Robert S H Lee

3

7

 Grande Champ P K Leong S Ruzaini

4