KUALA LUMPUR: February 9, 2025

Despite winning over 2000m as a three-year-old in Australia and finding success at 1500m four times in Macau, Daylight has excelled at much shorter trips in Malaysia.

After his big win in the RM150,000 Xmas Stakes over 1300m in Penang last Dec 22, the Pierro seven-year-old returned to his home base Sungai Besi and ran a tame fifth in soft going to another former Macau galloper Iron Head in a Class 3 race over 1400m two weeks ago.

Stepping back to 1200m today, Daylight carved out a gutsy win over the favourite Last Samurai in the Class 3 contest at Sungai Besi.

Daylight jumped best but jockey Lim Aun Kean allowed Last Samurai to take the lead. Fa Fa Star soon joined the leader and the pair set a cracking pace up front, breaking away to take a three-length lead from Daylight and Jungle King at the 600m.

In the straight, Last Samurai broke clear when Fa Fa Star came under pressure and was three lengths of Daylight who had moved up second on the outside of Fa Fa Star at the 200m.

Daylight started to gain momentum soon after and closed the gap rapidly on Last Samurai, eventually hitting the front close home to win by a neck.

“This is the third time I am riding the horse (Daylight) so I know him quite well,” said the jockey.

“He did not see out the trip (1400m) the last start. Today, he drew barrier one and we got into a good position (in the running).

“In the straight, he opened up well and we managed to run down Last Samurai.”

“Credit should go to the jockey for the win,” said trainer Wayne Lim. “He rode Daylight very well today.”

“The horse just could not handle the soft going last start.”

Daylight had three successful seasons in Macau, winning the Macau Derby Trial, finishing second in Macau Guineas and third in the Macau Derby.

He has now two wins and a third in eight starts in Malaysia.