Stablemates in top pony showdown
KUCHING: Two stablemates will be champing at the bit to see who gets to be crowned Pony Of The Year on the final day of racing at the Mile 8 Penrissen course here this morning.
Title contenders Dream Catcher II and Wind Chaser will square off in Race Five (Class One — 1000M) to provide a fitting finale to the current season.
To date, Dream Catcher II has four wins, one second, one third and one fourth while Wind Chaser is snapping at his heels with three wins, four seconds, no third and one fourth.
A slim first-place margin separates the Edmund Sim-trained pair. Dream Catcher II is a solitary win ahead of Wind Chaser going into the race. The latter can reverse the order with a win today and the advantage of a superior countback of second placings.
Dream Catcher II was a course scratching last week, apparently to keep him fresh for the race today.
Drawn in barrier four and with top rider Roslan Bujang electing to take the ride, the leading fiveyear-old is on his toes as he eyes pride of place on the scoring table. A cautionary note here is that the 67kg on his back might tell when he is asked for a final kick that differentiates between victor and also-ran. Whatever happens, the strapping galloper will have his sight firmly set on the title.
Wind Chaser, who won well on the First Day, will weigh out at 56kg with Mazlan Bujang in the saddle. Drawn next to the rails in barrier one and having the benefit of a solid run under his belt, the eight-year-old can chalk up a double to usher out the racing season in a blaze of glory.
The main danger should come from top weight Monolita, the mount of Jasmi Kamar. The speedy five-year-old who finished second to Wind Chaser last week, can play spoiler.
But a win by Monolita today will have no bearing on the champion pony match. The accolade still will go to W Stable as the tallies of both their runners – Dream Catcher II and Wind Chaser — are beyond catching.
Cherokee should follow up on his First Day runaway victory in Race Three (Class Three – 1000M).
The six-year-old who bounced right back from a spell to pack on racing condition, looks good for a repeat performance. With Roslan Bujang up and drawn in barrier four, the brown galloper should take the extra 6kg well in stride to close the season with a flourish of two wins in a row.
The challenge should come from Bintang Kilong (Jasmi Kamar) and Sau Tugau (Othman Putit).
Lunar power should cast a long shadow in Race Four (Class Two – 1000M).
My Moon (Jasmi Kamar) who won impressively on the First Day, can outshine the rest by pulling off a double.
Black Russian (Othman Putit), Crescendo (Mazlan Bujang) and (Geronimo (Roslan Bujang) can mount a three-pronged attack to deny the favourite.