Kept fresh after his first
big win in the Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) back in February, BALOTELLI was on
target again in the Perak Gold Vase over the 1100m straight course here
today.
After settling well off the
pace, the New Zealand gelding swept to the front coming to the course proper
and never looked back after that, winning drawing away by two-and-a-quarter
lengths from his stablemate GOOD BABY, winner of the race in 2012.
Trainer Ooi Chin Chin has
now picked up three big wins in the last nine months, beginning with the
Coronation Cup (1600m) last November which was won by GOOD BABY.
BALOTELLI, who was
purchased by his owners for NZ$40,000 at the Ready To Run sale, has now won
six races in 13 starts.
For jockey Salee Said, it
was his second success in the Gold Vase, having won it in 2009 on SINAR BINTANG.
Salee also won the 2007
Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup astride NEW KUALA DIPANG and partnered
BALOTELLI to victory in the Tunku Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, INTENTION rewrote the 1400m short
course record with a time of 1min 20.6sec in the Equine Nutrition
Australasia Trophy.
The Australian gelding sliced half 0.58 second off the previous mark set by
K-POP two years ago. It was the fifth win in 20 starts for the
four-year-old. |