Leopard eclipses rivals with all-the-way win

KUALA LUMPUR:  Sep 9, 2023
 
LEOPARD ECLIPSE holding off PERFECT - SLTC photo
 

LEOPARD ECLIPSE has a knack for scoring back-to-back wins. In fact, the New Zealand has done it three times.

Just two weeks after winning a Supreme C event over 1400m at Sungei Besi, the son of Road To Rock repeated the feat with an all-the-way win in a similar race over the same distance here today.

Ridden by Cheah Wei Wen who replaced the indisposed Hafis Saari, LEOPARD ECLIPSE, who started second favourite, won by three quarters of a length. It was his eighth win in 39 starts.

Next week, the seven-year-old will attempt to bring off a career-first hattrick when he takes on the best in the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m).

"He is a much improved horse," said trainer Frank Maynard who also owned the gelding. "Will run him in the Cup next week but it's probably a little short (in distance for him) at that level. I am really looking forward to the Piala Emas (Sultan Selangor) and the Penang Gold Cup."

Both Piala Emas Sultan Selangor and Penang Gold Cup will be run over 2000m later in the year. LEOPARD ECLIPSE has won up to 1775m.

The gelding, who landed unraced in the country, broke through for his first win in Open Maiden company in October 2020 and brought up his first double a month later.

Earlier this year in March, LEOPARD ECLIPSE also won back-to-back races in Stayers Stakes C and Class 4.

"He jumped neatly and went to the front. He does everything well and was too good for the field," said Cheah who was riding him for the first time today. Earlier in the day, the apprentice also scored on SPEEDY DEMON.

The favourite EMPEROR TAIZONG was given every chance by Jose De Souza, racing handy throughout, but could only managed a tame fourth.

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1500M
9 BIG CHINA BT Lim R Nuqman

1
  (4 gr.a.g Vert De Grece - Spurred In Flight by Flying Spur)  
3 Triple One Star R Lines WW Cheah

2
1 Ordos Legend SY Lim M Ekdihar

3
7 JJ Star S Siva S Shazmin

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1500M
9 JET BLACK P Arumugam HS Gill

1
  (9 gr.a.g Prerro - Nediym's Glow by General Nediym)  
4 Moment Of Justice EP Tan SU Lim

2
6 Ghost Bay BT Lim R Nuqman

3
5 All In B Ng M Ewe

4
 

3

 CLASS 5 - 1100M
9 SUPER DRAGON AB Abdullah E Ferreira

1
  (10 br.a.g Hidden Dragon - Allamiss by Easy Rocking)  
3 Aragon Pegasus WC Lim M Lukman

2
6 Unlimited Star R Lines WW Cheah

3
1 Obsidian C Leck HS Gill

4
 

4

 CLASS 5 - 1100M
5 SPEEDY DEMON V Sivan WW Cheah

1
  (10 b.a.g So You Think - Coralina by Dylan Thomas)  
6 Caorunn S Hamilton R Nuqman

2
7 Martin VJ M Sukri R Rueven

3
3 Sorbeta R Lines SU Lim

4
 

5

 CLASS 5 - 1100M
10 ROYAL FLUSH HY Cheng M Ewe

1
  (6 b.a.m Wandjina - Reinvent by More Than Ready)  
7 Miss Michelle CC Ooi J Low

2
6 City Knight WC Lim M Lukman

3
1 Might Is Right AB Abdullah KP Lim

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1250M
6 DISCRETELY RED KF Wong R Rueven

1
  (10 b.nz.g Redwood - Scarlet Queen by Fasliyev)  
3 Moongate R Lines L De Souza

2
8 Leo S Siva S Shazmin

3
7 Howl SY Lim M Ekdihar

4
 

7

 SUPREME C (SW) - 1400M
3 LEOPARD ECLIPSE F Maynard WW Cheah

1
  (7 b.nz.g Road To Rock - Kathy O'Reilly by O'Reilly)  
4 Perfect S Siva R Rueven

2
9 The Boss P Arumugam SU Lim

3
2 Emperor Taizong KC Tiang J De Souza

4
 

8

 CLASS 4 - 1250M
6 SILENT BOSS S Cook J Low

1
  (9 b.a.g Street Boss - Moonsprite by Seeking The Gold)  
7 Meta Hilton AB Abdullah J De Souza

2
1 Ironclad R Lines WW Cheah

3
5 Super Hero R Lines HS Gill

4
 

9

 CLASS 4 - 1250M
5 ATTENTION S Siva R Rueven

1
  (9 b.a.g Trusting - Hearts For Lilly by Lion Heart)  
4 Apis V Sivan E Ferreira

2
7 Skyscraper AB Abdullah M Ewe

3
3 Oisin Express R Lines L De Souza

4
 

10

 CLASS 5 - 1800M
4 D'GREAT SWIFT R Lines KP Lim

1
  (11 b.nz.g Gallant Guru - Anita Fame by Classic Fame)  
1 Success Street S Cook SU Lim

2
9 Black Taipan HY Cheng J Low

3
2 Master Jiangmen P Lee L De Souza

4