Monolita can bounce back
KUCHING: Beraya Stable’s Monolita should bring some cheer to a depleted first meeting of the new season by giving punters their money’s worth with a rebounding victory at the Mile 8 Penrissen course here this morning.
The five-year-old finished third in her last start behind the winner Rain Maker at the tail end of the past season but can bounce back today against field of seven in Race Five (Class 1 – 1000M).
On current form and with an apprentice claim from chalk rider Amin Abang and a good No. 2 marble to boot, the speedy mare has a bright chance of avenging her last start defeat.
Stablemate Suaji is the main danger.
Second to Rain Maker in his last start, the bit-chomping four-yearold, with Jasmi Kamar astride and nicely drawn in barrier three, can step up to spoil Monolita’s party.
Dream Catcher (Roslan Bujang) is the ranked outsider.
The W Stable’s above-theground performer is in fine shape, leaving the likelihood of a rain-washed soft track to play spoilsport to his chances.
Volcano (Othman Putit) is line for a maiden win in Race Three (Class 3 – 1000M).
The three-year-old with a third placing and an unplaced run in his last two starts, should be a pony of a different colour today. To be ridden by Othman Putit and with a good No. 3 marble, Volcano can erupt and blow the field away.
The challenge should come from Royal Command (Roslan Bujang) and Hitam Manis (Jasmi Kamar).
Big Chief is the pick in Race One (Class 5 – 1000M). The eight-year-old can follow up on his last start victory with another appearance in winner’s circle. With Roslan Bujang in the saddle and to start from the number three stall, Big Chief should give the field a good run for the money. The challenge should come from Master Wishes (Mazlan Bujang) and Elturius (Maruf Wahab.
The curtain raiser meeting for 2018 this morning has been reduced to just one day in a break with the long-established tradition of having two days per race meeting – one on each weekend.
Hopefully, the cutback is temporary and not a prelude to the proverbial ride into the sunset for the King of Sports on the local turf, given its time-honoured history, dating back to the early days of the founding of the State. Happy racing.