Coetzee lands first Strike of season

PENANG:  Mar 30, 2014

Kevin Coetzee was a relieved man here today when he finally saddled his first winner of the season with SURPRISE STRIKE, albeit the Australian gelding had to share honours with CHIEF SECRETARY in a Class 5 - 1700m handicap.

The situation the South African trainer finds himself this year is far different from seasons past when he was always amongst the front runners for the title, winning with 63 winners in 2007 and 71 winners in 2010, and picked up big races after big races.

At the end of last year, however, his main supporter Golden Knight Stable, the champion owners for the past several seasons, decided to pull out of racing, leaving Coetzee with only a handful of horses in his yards.

Gone were the GOOD BABY (Magic Millions Classic, Sprint Trophy, Sultan Gold Vase, MRA Cup and Selangor Gold Cup), SPEED BABY (two Coronation Cups and Piala Emas Sultan Selangor) and GOOD SIGHT (Piala Emas Sultan Selangor).

SURPRISE STRIKE, one of Golden Knight Stable's horses, has remained in his yards after bought by a new owner.

Coetzee managed a win with the gelding last year and the gelding ended a series of dismal runs of late to win today.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE:   Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position
 

1

 CLASS 5 - 1300M

4

 SPEED MAN J Tan J Low

1
  (5 b.a.g Blackfriars - Babbling by Centaine)  

1

 D'Creator K Coetzee Djulkifli

2

2

 Dont'callme Uncle Wong L Ho

3

6

 Pre Dawn SH Tan Z Khairil

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1300M

4

  JAI HO Noordin Barnabas

1
  (7 b.saf.g Var - Actress by Kahir Almaydan)  

7

 Colourland Kid D Miller J Low

2

11

 He Can Dance E Breukelen Yusri

3

1

 Smarty Eye J Tan Azhar

4
 

3

 CLASS 5 - 1700M

2

 EXCELLENT GOAL Wong Sani

1
  (7 ch.nz.g Black Minnaloushe - Miss Sacha by Kaapstad)  

13

 Key Largold Danis J Low

2

6

 World Supreme Robert J Shankar

3

4

 La Familia SH Tan Wepner

4
 

4

 CLASS 5 - 1700M

1

 SURPRISE STRIKE K Coetzee Djulkifli

1
  (5 ch.a.g Flying Spur - Clouding Over by Thunder Gulch)  

3

 CHIEF SECRETARY Brogan Azhar

1
  (7 b.nz.g Johar - Anakela Bay by Fairy King)  

6

 Flash Gordon Ismadi I Amirul

3

2

 Principal Man SH Tan J De Souza

4
  *Dead-heat for 1st      
 

5

 CLASS 5 - 1300M

2

 GOOD GIFT Wong K Eirwan

1
  (6 b.a.g Hussonet - Barsha by Redoute's Choice)  

13

 Track Runner Brogan J Low

2

1

 Cabrera Danis Azhar

3

11

 Good Artist Robert S Shafrizal

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1600M

3

 LIRA Noordin HK Cheng

1
  (7 gr.a.g Flying Spur - Emerald Shoes by Kala Dancer)  

11

 Mogan's Pride HS Lim SU Lim

2

10

 Halo Inspire PK Leong Wepner

3

5

 Winning Line D Miller J De Souza

4
 

7

 CLASS 4 - 1600M

4

 THUNDERING ANGEL D Miller K Eirwan

1
  (6 b.a.m Royal Academy - Cryogenic by Anabaa)  

1

 Sir Rally SH Tan KC Tham

2

12

 Esperanza J Tan J Low

3

13

 High Peak HS Lim Sani

4
 

8

 CLASS 5 - 1300M

11

 THE SUNBELT HS Lim J Shankar

1
  (4 b.a.g Red Ransom - Dangerous Dancer by Danehill Dancer)  

7

 Marylebone Park S Shanmugam J De Souza

2

2

 Good Timing SH Tan L Ho

3

5

 Rumpelstiltskin Ismadi I Amirul

4