Kruger on the upgrade with hattrick

KUALA LUMPUR:  Apr 2, 2022
 
KRUGER clearing away from EMPEROR TAIZONG - SLTC photo
 

It had been a struggle (to find his right form), but KRUGER has struck a bright patch since his breakthrough win last October.

Jockey Rueven Ravindra, who partnered the son of Choisir to that maiden win, was back in the saddle when the gelding completed a hattrick for his sixth win in his last eight starts at Sungei Besi here today.

KRUGER, who cost A$120,000 as a yearling, started his career on a promising note when he finished third in his debut in Singapore.

But after five subsequent disappointing runs, the Australian gelding was was transferred to Shanmugam Subramaniam.

However, the struggle to find his form continued in his first six runs under the Ipoh trainer, with just one placing to show. Then, everything clicked following seven months on the sidelines last year, in part due to the Covid-19 break.

After winning his last two runs in Class 4, KRUGER defied a promotion when he came from just off the pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the Class 3 - 1400m handicap today.

"The horse keeps on improving and has the potential to go far," said Shanmugam. "Basically we have been doing the same thing with him since his runaway win (by 5 3/4 lengths) last start."

"The pace was quite fast today and we managed to settle nicely behind the pace," said Rueven who has now ridden him twice for two wins.

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
4 RAINBOW FISH R Lines L De Souza

1
  (9 ch.nz.g Castledale - Run Roxy Run by Rock Of Gibraltar)  
1 Wildfire HY Cheng SU Lim

2
2 All White C Leck Clyde Leck

3
3 Gigante Del Andre SY Lim R Rueven

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
5 MY MONEY S Hamilton L De Souza

1
  (7 br.nz.g He's Remarkable - Seek A Fortune by Kaapstad)  
6 Overlord F Maynard R Rueven

2
1 Kubera's Chief SY Lim M Ekdihar

3
4 New Garden R Lines WW Cheah

4
 

3

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
4 LEADING CELLIST C Leck Clyde Leck

1
  (9 b.e.f Hat Trick - Tell It As It Is by Chester House)  
1 Zilfikar S Hamilton WW Cheah

2
6 Mighty Phoenix V Sivan R Rueven

3
9 Song Kid R Lines L De Souza

4
 

4

 CLASS 5 - 1600M
5 ATTENTION S Siva L De Souza

1
  (7 b.a.g Trusting - Hearts For Lilly by Lion Heart)  
4 Presto C Leck Clyde Leck

2
10 La Familia AB Abdullah W Faizal

3
1 Little Master R Lines S Ruzaini

4
 

5

 CLASS 4 - 1300M
1 RESOLUTE S Siva HS Gill

1
  (5 b.a.g Dissident - Sonota Queen by Commands)  
2 Guilty Pleasures C Leck Clyde Leck

2
7 Moongate Five R Lines WW Cheah

3
8 Pratt Street F Maynard Y Aify

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1300M
5 SAN ANDREAS S Dunderdale M Lukman

1
  (5 b.a.g Smart Missile - Shamardal Gold by Shamardal)  
4 Elite General BT Lim R Nuqman

2
1 Ebraz AB Abdullah HS Gill

3
2 Galileo's Approach HY Cheng R Rueven

4
 

7

 CLASS 4 - 1300M
1 PEER GYNT HY Cheng HK Cheng

1
  (9 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Arche by Danasinga)  
7 Wishuponastar BT Lim HS Gill

2
9 Nivisible R Lines S Ruzaini

3
8 Amazing Choice F Maynard Y Aify

4
 

8

 CLASS 3 - 1400M
7 KRUGER S Shanmugam R Rueven

1
  (5 b.a.g Choisir - Gorgeous Miss by Shanardal)  
3 Emperor Taizong KC Tiang J Low

2
5 Mr Hanks V Sivan J De Souza

3
6 Mr Hopkins F Maynard CK Khaw

4
 

9

 OPEN NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
1 SKYFALL AB Abdullah Y Aify

1
  (5 br.nz.g Sacred Falls - Thorn Star by Thorn Park)  
4 Temptations C Leck J De Souza

2
5 Golden Cup HY Cheng J Low

3
7 Najwan AB Abdullah W Faizal

4
 

10

 CLASS 4 - 1100M
5 ME NO MARSH MELLOW V Sivan M Ekdihar

1
  (7 b.a.g Gingerbread Man - Rich Resource by Chanteclair)  
6 Mise En Garde R Lines S Sia

2
2 Spade Of Ace WC Lim M Lukman

3
7 Tilsworth Mick F Maynard L De Souza

4
 

11

 CLASS 4 - 1100M
9 FIRST PRECINCT S Dunderdale J De Souza

1
  (9 br.a.g More Than Ready - Unspoken Choice by Giant's Causeway)
8 Star Invincible HY Cheng KC Tham

2
3 Ningaloo WC Lim SU Lim

3
10 Caorunn S Hamilton R Rueven

4
 

12

 CLASS 4 - 1100M
4 TRINITY GENERAL SY Lim M Ekdihar

1
  (5 b/br.a.h My Admiration - Double Fun by Dubleo)  
1 Nova Vocal SY Lim S Sia

2
9 Terms Of Reference S Hamilton CK Khaw

3
5 Delaware BT Lim AR Raiyan

4