Speed Baby wins Piala Emas Sultan Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR:  June 17, 2012

Despite struggling to win for nearly a year, SPEED BABY still proved too good for his rivals on his return to Malaysia in the RM1mil Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) at Sungei Besi here today.

The five-year-old, ridden by Noel Callow, not only beat MR AMBASSADOR, winner of the Perak Derby last time out, by two and three-quarter lengths, he also set a new course record with a time of 1min 59.5secs which is one-tenth of a second faster than the previous best set by GRAND JURY in 1995.

The Australian gelding, who landed unraced, was a sensation when initially trained by Kevin Coetzee in Ipoh, registering two wins and two seconds in eight starts. After winning the Coronation Cup in November 2010, he was sent down to Singapore to continue racing under Steven Burridge.

SPEED BABY (Fastnet Rock - Twisted Heart by Distorted Humor), purchased by owner Beh Chin Pheng for A$280,000 as a yearling, was off the mark in his third start at Kranji when he triumphed in the Group 1 Patrons' Bowl (1600m).

But he has managed just two placings since, in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy and Group 1 Raffles Cup.

The Sungei Besi track has been a happy hunting ground for Burridge who was once based here as an assistant trainer before he was granted a lience and stables in Singapore.

Today's win was his third in the series, having been successful with TRIGGER EXPRESS in 2008 and RISKY BUSINESS last year. The latter also won the Penang Gold Cup in 2010 when the race was staged here due to major repairs of the the Penang main track.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 WUHAN JOCKEY CLUB GOODWILL CUP,  CLASS 5 - 1400M

2

 Wonderful Ocean W C Lim S H Lee

1

12

 Well Beyond R Lines J Low

2

7

 Dream Island Sukri M Ganeesh

3

10

 Surewinwan S B Tan Azhar

4

2

 ROYAL BANGKOK SPORTS CLUB TROPHY,  CLASS 5 - 1400M

2

 Brunei Tale T Yeoh S C Liew

1

4

 Simply Stunning R Lines J Low

2

1

 Bukit Tinggi Brogan M Gallagher

3

6

 Red Warrior R Lines J Shankar

4

3

 SINGAPORE TURF CLUB TROPHY,  CLASS 4 - 1600M

3

 Volpista T Gillespie M Gallagher

1

8

 Buena Vista B T Lim H S Gill

2

5

 Sinfive B T Lim Saimee

3

4

 No Comment S H Tan S H Lee

4

4

 ROYAL SABAH TURF CLUB TROPHY,  CLASS 5 - 1600M

1

 Track Master Brogan S Mutaza

1

8

 Rumours T Gillespie W Smith

2

2

 Befledged R Lines Goon

3

11

 Red Cliff R Lines J Low

4

5

 JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY,  CLASS 4 - 1400M

12

 Salahaddin A Selveratnam J Low

1

10

 Littlebitofjoy E Goh N Shahrul

2

4

 Colourlandprestige S H Tan J De Souza

3

3

 Secretariat Prince Thwaites B Tai

4

6

 AUSTRALASIAN BLOODSTOCK AGENCY TROPHY 
  CLASSES 1 & 2 - 1400M      

10

 Isnottheprice B T Lim H S Gill

1

4

 Aranda K Coetzee J Shankar

2

11

 Legend Robert Sofhan

3

5

 Bright Prince Osman W Smith

4

7

 PIALA EMAS SULTAN SELANGOR,  OPEN - 2000M

1

 Speed Baby S Burridge N Callow

1

7

 Mr Ambassador J Tan W Smith

2

6

 Good Feel B T Lim J De Souza

3

10

 Good Winning K Coetzee Azhar

4

8

 GOLD COAST TURF CLUB TROPHY,  CLASS 4 - 1400M

3

 Sinseven B T Lim H Tanabe

1

1

 Aussie Son K Hughes N Callow

2

6

 El Mariachi T Yeoh W Smith

3

9

 Super Amigo S B Tan Saimee

4

9

 KOREA RACING AUTHORITY TROPHY,  CLASS 3 - 1600M

9

 Pina Colarda M H Wee M Gallagher

1

3

 Good Friend R Lines H Tanabe

2

1

 Be Sure W C Lim N Callow

3

12

 Liveration Spirit A Selvaratnam Azhar

4

10

 CLASS 5 - 1800M

5

 Space Invader K Coetzee J Shankar

1

8

 Keep The Time Robert M Gallagher

2

10

 Tycoon Castle W C Lim J Low

3

2

 Opportune Time R Lines N Callow

4