Upset win by Iluminado in Gold Cup

PENANG:  Dec 25, 2016
 
It was ILUMINADO first and the rest nowhere in the 2016 Yang
Di-Pertua Negeri Gold Cup
 

Nine-year-old ILUMINADO proved he still got what it takes when he outclassed his rivals in the RM350,000 Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup over 2000m here today.

It was big turnaround in form for the Argentinian gelding who has been unplaced in 10 starts since his last win in March last year. And he was last home in his last outing just three weeks ago.

But a switch of rider to M Ganeesh for the first time today brought out the best in ILUMINADO.

Ganeesh adopted daring tactics on the seasoned campaigner and it worked. After settling just behind the pace in a tight-bunched field early, he took over the running going into the back straight and quickly opened up a big lead.

ILUMINADO never surrendered that lead in the soft going and went on to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He paid RM111.

It was the first big win for Ganeesh and the second feature win for trainer Anna Scott who earlier in the season saddled LISTEN to win the Selangor Gold Cup.

ILUMINADO won eight races in Singapore and was second in the Group 3 Causeway Classic Stakes in 2013. Since coming to Malaysia in the later part of 2014, he has chalked up three wins.

In Argentina, ILUMINADO raced nine time for a win and three placings which included a Group 1 event.

Today's meeting brings the curtain down on the 2016 racing season in Malaysia. The new season starts on Jan 1 with a meeting in Ipoh. Singapore begins the new season that day as well with the running of the New Year Cup.

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

1

 CLASS 5 - 1300M
7 ROYAL EXPLORER S Hamilton Salee

1
  (4 b.a.g Henrythenavigator - In A Teapcup by Mystery Storm)  
4 Black Viscount Robert CT Lee

2
5 German Speed J Tan L Ho

3
1 Classic Arrow K Coetzee KC Wong

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1300M
4 SIR RALLY Wong M Ganeesh

1
  (7 br.a.g Any Given Saturday - Aerindis by Anabaa)  
12 Black Ahead J Tan J Low

2
3 Sacred Achiever S Hamilton S Rosmizan

3
11 Archaeology S Hamilton S Sandana

4
 

3

 LORENZO JEWELLERY TROPHY
PREMIUM 3 & 4YO - 1300M
5 V RESPECT U PK Leong S Saddam

1
(4 ch.nz.g Sakhee's Secret - Astrology by Zabeel)
10 Cizen Robert S Shafrizal

2
9 Jabbar S Hamilton KC Wong

3
1 Wellington Hammer Maynard Azhar

4
 

4

 CLASS 4 - 1700M
2 GLORY AGE P Lee J Low

1
  (9 ch.a.g Jet Spur - Kathleen by Zabeel)  
7 Aguero T Asogan J Shankar

2
1 Pisces Jet PK Leong J De Souza

3
3 Carbon Copy K Coetzee HS Gill

4
 

5

 WILLIAM INGLIS & SON TROPHY
ENRICH STAKES A - 1300M
3 PISCES STAR PK Leong J De Souza

1
(6 b.a.g Court Command - Lasy Asha by Lead On Time)
11 Feisty Leo R Lines Saifudin

2
16 Big Lightning K Coetzee SU Lim

3
6 Holy Empire S Hamilton Salee

4
 

6

 YANG DI PERTUA NEGERI GOLD CUP
OPEN (SW) - 2000M
4 ILUMINADO A Scott M Ganeesh

1
(9 b.arg.g Body Glove - Brillosa by Cleante)
12 Messi E Breukelen F Yap

2
8 Astro Fame S Hamilton Salee

3
1 En Lauder R Lines HS Gill

4
 

7

 CLASS 5 - 2000M
6 DUEL OF HONOUR R Lines J Low

1
  (7 b/br.nz.g Duelled - Notawordtomary by Black Minnaloushe)  
7 Kiwi Maestro P Lee Azhar

2
3 Pure Rabid A Scott M Ganeesh

3
1 Victory March J Tan Goon

4
 

8

 CLASS 4 - 1400M
9 OUR RIVER DANCER S Hamilton Salee

1
  (6 gr.a.g Danehill Dancer - Distinctly by Sadler's Wells)  
3 Taffetas R Lines J De Souza

2
1 Baby Polo  B Ng F Yap

3
5 Travertine S Hamilton S Thai Yang

4