Emerald Lisi sets to shine in the big races
KUALA LUMPUR: February 17, 2025
A Group 1 winner in his native Brazil and a proven winner in Australia, Emerald Lisi is one name to take note in the big races later this season.
After a fourth and a third in his initial two starts in the country, the Brazilian gelding by the Japanese sire Agnes Gold was off the mark in Malaysia when he stormed home to win the Class 3 – 1400m handicap at Sungai Besi today.
The margin might have been just a head but there is plenty to like about the success of the six-year-old who raced in three different countries before ending up in Malaysia.
Emerald Lisi raced as Offeu Negro in Brazil and as a juvenile, finished on board in all his four outings, winning the Group 1 Jockey Club Brasileiro over 1600m. He was also second in the Group 1 Joao Adhemar de Almeida Prado, also over 1600m.
Then in his only start at three, he won the Group 1 Gran Premio Ipiranga, again over 1600m.
He was then bought for racing in Hong Kong and renamed Dynamic Spirit. But the gelding failed to reproduce his Brazilian form and managed just two fourth-place finishes at Happy Valley in seven appearances in Hong Kong.
A bleeding attack forced a premature end to his campaign there and he was shipped to Australia. From two outings Down Under, he won a Benchmark 72 race for four-year-olds and upwards at Kensington in Sydney.
After that the gelding was on the move again, this time destination Malaysia. And a new name: Emerald Lisi.
Emerald Lisi started favourite yesterday and after vying for the early lead, settled nicely in third spot behind Pacific Atlantic and Tornado Pegasus who disputed the lead and made a break from the 800m. Jockey Nuqman Rozi was happy to let Emerald Lisi bowled along.
Pacific Atlantic took a clear lead into the straight when Tornado Pegasus came under pressure on the yielding track. Nuqman switched Emerald Lisi out wide for his run, just three lengths from the leader.
While Pacific Atlantic shot well clear from the 400m, Emerald Lisi seemed to struggle to get going on the wet ttack. The gelding began to pick up speed from the 300m but veered in badly Nuqman used his whip. Nuqman had to stop riding and straightend his mount.
Emerald List regained his rhythm in the final 200m but veered in again under the whip. Fortunately Nuqman was able to take hold of his mount and Emerald List ened up just on the outside of Pacific Atlantic.
The pair fought to the finish and Emerald List proved a little too strong in the end.
“Yesterday’s win was a big effort by my team,” said trainer Johnny Lim.
“It was beautiful ride from my boy (Nuqman). He extracted the horse at the right time to win the race.
“Going forward, I will give him a two-week break. I have spoken to the owner (Winson Wong from Hong Kong). We will target him for a Group 1 race in May. And hopefully he is what I think he is.”
Class 3 – 1400 m (LONG COURSE )
