Kuala Lumpur, November 29

The standout runner in this year’s RM150,000 Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) is undoubtedly PASIR PINJI (Nadeem – Mistaar by Iffraaj) who rose from a humble Class 4 at the start of the year to win six races during the season, culminating in his victory in the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) at Sungei Besi last September.

Trainer Simon Dunderdale has rested the New Zealand gelding in preparation for his sixth consecutive win and his biggest test yet.

PASIR PINJI, who won a Open Maiden event in Singapore, has been sensational since relocating to Malaysia with nine wins 11 starts in the country.

PASIR PINJI has only scored up to 1775m thus far but there is no doubt he will take the Piala Emas trip, given the way he came from well back in the running to win the Selangor Gold Cup. Jose De Souza has again been given the task on the gelding.

Dunderdale has been enjoying a superb run in the feature races of late, winning the last four. Aside from PASIR PINJI, he also won the Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup, the Coronation Cup and the Perak Charity Cup with GOOD FIGHT.

Only ten horses will take on PASIR PINJI in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor this year, not the capacity field we normally expect.

One runner watching out for is GOLDEN PAYOUT (Proisir – Zelt by Red Ransom).

After a belated start to his career (he landed unraced in late 2020), the New Zealand gelding reeled off three wins last year and has two more wins in Class 4 this season.

On the back of his win over 1600m last October, trainer Charles Leck entered him for the Coronation Cup a month later.

The five-year-old, ridden by apprentice Suriya Arunasalam then, was in the mix when he suddenly veered right across the track 200m out, finishing wide out. But still ended up in fourth spot behind GOOD FIGHT. With a strong rider in Ruzaini Supien this time, GOLDEN PAYOUT could prove to be a different proposition.

Another runner to be on the lookout for is BLACK THORN (Redwood – Veva Girl by Fastnet Rock).

The New Zealand gelding, who has 10 wins to his credit, finished second to D’GREAT TIMING in the Piala Emas in 2019 and was also third to SACRED EMPIRE in the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) the same year.

BLACK THORN is now 10 years old and has yet to win in four runs this season but he showed a glimpse of his old dash when he flashed home second to GOOD FIGHT in the Coronation Cup (1600m) last start.

His trainer Frank Maynard has a useful second runner in LEOPARD ECLIPSE (Road To Rock – Kathy O’Reilly by O’Reilly) who was third in the Coronation Cup last time out.

The New Zealand gelding has won eight races up to 1700m thus far, four of them this season.

GOLDEN KING (Savabeel – Snowdrop by Pins), who finished second to TELLER in the Piala Emas last year, aims to go one better and has some decent form this season. Leading jockey Nuqman Faris Rozi will take the mount on the gelding.

This year’s Piala Emas will see two former top Singapore gallopers looking to revive their fortunes here.

TOP KNIGHT (Zoustar – Nero Cavallo by Charnwood Forest) won the Singapore Guineas in 2019 and the Derby and Queen Elizabeth II Cup a year later. He has started five times since joining Richard Lines this season.

Another former Singapore Derby winner is OZZY STAR (Sepoy – Mysterious Light by Fantastic Light) who triumphed in 2019. The Australian gelding also came in second in the Chairman’s Trophy and Raffles Cup in 2020. He has been unplaced in seven runs under trainer Peter Lee.

Both horses need to show significant improvement from their runs so far in the country to provide a decent challenge to PASIR PINJI and co.

The very unlikely top weight this season is XENA (Proisir – Lady Illicit by Sir Percy) who has been winning races every season since the start of her campaign in 2019.

Second to AWESOME STORM in the Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) last year, the mare has been taking on longer trips in recent months, winning over 1700m last September and again over 1300m a month later. She was a smack-up third to GOOD FIGHT in the Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup in October.

Three other former Singapore gallopers are among the 12-strong field on Sunday.

STRONG N BEST (Rock ’N’ Pop – Flat White by Thorn Park) won four races at Kranji and has races four times in Malaysia.

TOPMOST (Your Song – Tukso by Don Eduardo), twice winner in Singapore, has four wins to his credit in Malaysia and it will be a big step-up in class for the Australian gelding.

SEMANTAN PRINCE (Nadeem – Little Singa by Danasinga) has chalked up seven wins since arriving from New Zealand with his most recent win achieved over 1800m in Class 4 two starts back.

But all eyes will be on PASIR PINJI on Sunday.

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