KUALA LUMPUR:  Jan 22, 2013

SPEED BABY (Fastnet Rock - Twisted Heart by Distorted Humor), as expected, has been named Champion Horse of Malaysia 2012 after two sterling performances in a comeback season last year.

After 12 months without success, the Australian gelding  set a new course record time 1min 59.5secs when he triumphed in the RM1 mil Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) at Sungei Besi when trained by Steven Burridge in Singapore.

Returning to his former circuit and under his former trainer Kevin Coetzee, SPEED BABY came out the next start to win the RM700,000 Coronation Cup (1600m) in Ipoh. He also ran a gallant third to HINT in the Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup (2200m) handicap event with 59kg on his back.

SPEED BABY began his career in Malaysia but was sent down south after winning the Coronation Cup in November 2010. In Singapore, he bagged the Patrons' Bowl in his third outing at Kranji but trained off after before his comeback wins last year.

BEAUTIFUL CHOICE (Super Istana - Bliss by Citidancer), meanwhile, has been named Malaysian Bred Champion Horse for the third consecutive year.

He was the top choice of the Malaysian racing fraternity for 2010 and 2011 after winning the RM300,000 Wira Malaysia Cup, the top event for Malaysian breds, in both years.

With the discontinuation of the 1600m event last year, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE turned his sights on the RM250,000 Charity Cup (1800m) and triumphed against some big names in the local circuit.

Golden Knight Stable was once again the Champion Owner of Malaysia.

Richard Lines, who pipped Kevin Coetzee to the title in 2011 on a count back after both finished the season with 70 winners, was the runaway winner in the trainer's premiership last year.

Lines saddled 74 winner during the year, 20 more than second-placed Coetzee.

After some nervy moments in the last couple of weeks of the season, Eirwan Khalid bagged the jockey's title for the first time with 59 winners, eight ahead of Jose De Souza.

Yap Kim Yin was the top apprentice last season after booting home 24 winners. He was eighth in the overall table.

The champions will receive their trophies in conjunction with the running of the MRA Cup in Ipoh on Mar 3.