Remarkable transformation for Pasir Pinji

KUALA LUMPUR:  Mar 18, 2023
 
PASIR PINJI scoring a gutsy fourth win in five starts in Malaysia - SLTC photo
 

Barely shading his maiden status in Singapore and struggling to win again after that, PASIR PINJI has made a remarkable transformation since moving to Malaysia in the middle of last year.

Three months after his arrival in the country, the New Zealand gelding easily accounted for a Class 5 field over 1400m last September. This was followed two more wins in quick succession in Class 5 and 4.

PASIR PINJI was narrowly beaten in his first start of the 2023 season in January but he has bounced back to beat last-start winner TAUBOSS in the Class 4 - 1300m handicap at Sungei Besi here today to make it four wins in five starts.

Handicapped at 59kg, trainer Simon Dunderdale utilised the 4kg claim by apprentice Tuan Ammar on the six-year-old.

Ammar parked PASIR PINJI just off the rails in fifth spot early before squeezing through a gap between runners at the 400m to go for the lead.

PASIR PINJI hit the front 200m and kicked clear momentarily before TAUBOSS emerged from the chasing pack to after him. TAUBOSS was cutting him down every stride in the closing stages but PASIR PINJI held on to win by half a length.

"PASIR PINJI was a late scratching two months ago after hurting himself in the truck on the way to the races," said Dunderdale. "The break seems to have been good for him. He was nicely ridden by Ammar today."

First-season apprentice Ammar said: "I felt my mount had plenty to give when we hit the front at the 200m but it was a lucky win in the end."

PASIR PINJI raced 18 times in Singapore and his only win came in a Open Maiden event over 1400m.

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

1 

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
3 ENFORCE HY Cheng V Espindola

1
  (6 b.nz.g Pentire - Charmaine by Centaine)  
6 Unshadowed General C Leck Clyde Leck

2
10 Overseer S Hamilton S Salee

3
8 Trinity General SY Lim M Ewe

4
 

2

 CLASS 5 - 1400M
2 UPTOWN GIRL MW Teh M Lukman

1
  (6 b.nz.m Shamoline Warrior - Murphy's Cash by Aucash)  
5 Qiji Auston S Dunderdale T Ammar

2
9 Fardus M Sukri HS Gill

3
8 Waimea L Moy I Fikri

4
 

3

 CLASS 4 - 1300M
7 NAJWAN AB Abdullah I Fikri

1
  (5 br.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Mabsam by Stratum)  
3 Mercurial Turn R Lines KH Chong

2
6 Steel Cutter MP Thwaites KC Tham 2
9 My Money S Hamilton M Ewe

4
  *Deadheat for 2nd      
 

4

 CLASS 4 - 1300M
1 PASIR PINJI S Dunderdale T Ammar

1
  (6 b.nz.g Nadeem - Mistaar by Iffraaj)  
4 Tauboss SY Lim MM Firdaus

2
10 Arif S Hamilton R Rueven

3
6 Hello Boss L Moy I Fikri

4
 

5

 CLASSES 3 & 4 - 1600M
7 RESURGENCE S Siva R Rueven

1
  (6 b.nz.g Proisir - Eleanor Coup by Daggers Drawn)  
5 Golden Flame KC Tiang V Espindola

2
6 Elite Remarkable V Sivan HS Gill

3
2 Semantan Prince S Dunderdale T Ammar

4
 

6

 CLASS 4 - 1100M
8 GOLDEN QUEEN HY Cheng V Espindola

1
  (4 br.nz.m Sweynesse - Prist by Shocking)  
2 Magic Captain R Lines HS Gill

2
10 No Regrets S Hamilton S Salee

3
3 Selangor Star BT Lim A Najib

4
 

7

 CLASS 4 - 1100M
6 FANTASTIC ECLIPSE F Maynard A Nazir

1
  (7 b.nz.h Iffraaj - Beach Dance by Carnegie)  
1 Harveywallbanger R Lines M Ewe

2
7 Jockey King HY Cheng HK Cheng

3
3 Magnum King SY Lim R Nuqman

4
 

8

 CLASS 5 - 1200M
2 TIGRESS R Lines S Sia

1
  (7 b/br.a.m Uncle Mo - Fly Me Home by Flying Spur)  
7 City Knight WC Lim M Lukman

2
8 Monday BT Lim M Ewe 2
6 Roti Kaya HY Cheng HK Cheng

4
  *Deadheat for 2nd      
 

9

 CLASS 5 - 1200M
11 MAGIC PLAYER HY Cheng J Low

1
  (5 br.a.g Dissident - Spendin' It by Encosta De Lago)  
7 Lucky Thirtynine F Maynard A Nazir

2
3 Caorunn S Hamilton S Salee

3
1 Unicorn KC Tiang V Espindola

4
 

10

 CLASS 5 - 1200M
7 SMART MASTER SY Lim S Sia

1
  (9 b/br.a.g Reaan - Thawaabet by Nadeem)  
3 Lim's Torpedo R Lines M Ewe

2
6 Darci Super S Hamilton KC Tham

3
8 Super Dragon AB Abdullah I Fikri

4