Moon Face back in the right orbit

KUALA LUMPUR:  Mar 12, 2022
 

Tough as they come, talented galloper MOON FACE has overcome setback to get his career on the right orbit.

The Zensational gelding landed in Singapore after winning a Stakes event and a second placing from just two runs as a two-year-old in Argentina.

MOON FACE started his Singapore campaign promisingly, winning his first two runs in Class 4 with ease.

But he failed to reproduce that form in two subsequent starts in the higher classes. When trainer Cliff Brown left Singapore, the gelding was placed under the care of Michael Clements last year.

MOON FACE had several trials under Clements but he never got to race for the trainer who eventually recommended the horse to move to Malaysia as he has respiratory problems.

MOON FACE joined trainer Simon Dunderdale last October and the Kuala Lumpur trainer has managed to nurse the gelding back to health and regain his old sparkle.

A first-up second in Malaysia last month was followed by a runaway win in the Class 3 - 1100m handicap at Sungei Besi here today. Ridden by Jose De Souza, MOON FACE led all the way, winning by 6 3/4 lengths.

The gelding covered the distance on the short course in 1min. 3.1secs, just one-tenth of a second outside the course set by HAPPY FLYING in 2015.
 
"He leaped out of the gates and easily took to the front. When asked for it in the straight, he switched to another gear. More wins await for him," said De Souza.

"Very impressive win," said Dunderdale. "I'm grateful to the owner with entrusting me with such a nice horse. He just missed setting a new course record with 59kg on his back."

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
3 SHOW ROYALE HY Cheng SU Lim

1
  (5 br.nz.g Showcasing - Silk Spurs by Flying Spur)  
4 Leading Cellist C Leck J De Souza

2
9 I'm The Man HY Cheng KC Tham

3
5 Mr Connery R Lines L De Souza

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
4 MY GOODNESS C Leck K Pavinthran

1
  (8 b.a.g Danehill Express - Indian Angel by Metal Storm)  
10 Tin's Machine WC Lim SU Lim

2
1 Rings Of Fire AB Abdullah AK Lim

3
9 D'Great Magic R Lines S Salee

4
 

3

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
4 INVISIBLE R Lines WW Cheah

1
  (6 b/br.am.g Mission Impazible - Kettle's Sister by More Than Ready)
7 Enforce HY Cheng KC Wong

2
9 Make Dream S Dunderdale J De Souza

3
6 Mental C Leck Clyde Leck

4
 

4

 OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1600M
5 LAGO DE COMO S Deva Raj AK Lim

1
  (5 b.arg.g Orpen - Laguna Del Diamante by Incurable Optimist)  
1 Air Boss S Hamilton Y Aify

2
7 Counter Attack C Leck Clyde Leck

3
10 Babel F Maynard L De Souza

4
 

5

 CLASS 4 - 1500M
6 UNSTOPPABLE GIANT S Hamilton CK Khaw

1
  (5 b/br.nz.g Savabeel - Girls On Top by O'Reilly)  
1 Sorbeta R Lines L De Souza

2
2 Keng Mak Mak MP Thwaites S Shazmin

3
7 Flaming Phoenix KC Tiang KC Wong

4
 

6

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
9 LUCK MAK MAK MP Thwaites KC Wong

1
  (8 br.nz.g Alamosa - Danewhisper by Danehill)  
5 Winner's Euphoria C Leck Clyde Leck

2
3 Sand Bank S Dunderdale J De Souza

3
12 Stardice S Hamilton S Salee

4
 

7

 CLASS 3 - 1100M
2 MOON FACE S Dunderdale J De Souza

1
  (5 gr.arg.g Zensational - Caraluna by Pure Prize)  
11 Vetri HY Cheng HK Cheng

2
12 Vietnam Captain MP Thwaites HS Gill

3
10 Drone R Lines L De Souza

4
 

8

 SUPREME A (SW) - 1200M
6 WHITE HOOF BIRD BT Lim HS Gill

1
  (5 b/br.a.g Denman - Can She Move by Canny Lad)  
5 Excelling R Lines L De Souza

2
8 Xena HY Cheng KC Tham

3
3 Eclipse Splash F Maynard Y Aify

4
 

9

 CLASS 4 - 1200M
11 UPSTOPPABLE TRAIN C Leck SU Lim

1
  (7 b/br.am.g Soldat - Taker Home by Vindication)  
10 Moongate Five R Lines WW Cheah

2
7 First Precinct S Dunderdale L De Souza

3
6 Diamond Set MP Thwaites HS Gill

4
 

10

 CLASS 4 - 1200M
11 FISH BALL KC Tiang MM Firdaus

1
  (6 b.a.g Smart Missile - Forest City Girl by Deputy Minister)  
1 Resolute S Siva HS Gill

2
8 Tauboss SY Lim R Rueven

3
5 Beijing Star HY Cheng KC Wong

4
 

11

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
8 D'GREAT WIN HY Cheng KC Wong

1
  (6 blk.a.g Rothesay - All Saints Girl by Mossman)  
9 New Garden R Lines WW Cheah

2
7 Siew Yuk MW Teh C Goon

3
11 Parisbas CW Robert R Nuqman

4
 

12

 CLASS 5 - 1250M
6 LUCKY SIXTYSIX F Maynard R Rueven

1
  (9 b.a.g Ruwi - Eugenie Blue by Fasliyev)  
5 Gordon G R Lines L De Souza

2
3 Super Dragon AB Abdullah Y Aify

3
8 Cape Lincoln T Asogan HS Gill

4