Kuala Lumpur, Jan 3 

The opening day of the 2025 season at the Selangor Turf Club (SLTC) tomorrow marks the launch of the club’s Racing Enhancement Fund (REF) – a new beginning that will elevate the reputation of SLTC as a premier racing centre and achieve a higher level of excellence in the sports.

With a substantial increase in the prizemoney offered across the board, SLTC is truly stepping up to fill the void left by the closure of the Macau Jockey Club and Singapore Turf Club.

The introduction of the (REF) is an excellent move to boost the sport’s appeal and participation. The increased prizemoney  for horse owners, jockeys, and trainers are likely to attract top talent and elevate the competition. To mention a few, from tomorrow 4 January onwards, the Class 5B and Class 4A prize money will be increased to RM32,000 (up 60%) and RM49,000 (up 40%) respectively.

The racing enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting day at the races with a nine-card programme tomorrow.

The arrival of horses from Macau added a new dimension to local racing with 12 individual winners of 13 races last year (the multiple winner being Revue).

On top of that, former Macau Derby winner Mega Gems took out the RM250,000 Coronation Cup last November and Daylight won the RM150,000 Xmas Stakes.

Trainers like two-time champion Jason Ong, David Kok and Richard Lim have boosted the ranks at Sungai Besi. They will be joined by Jerome Tan and Mahadi Taib soon.

And all eyes will be on Singapore Gold Cup winner Smart Star when he makes his local debut.

In the face of competition from the Macau and Singapore imports, expect horses like Antipodean, Witnessimpact, Golden Pegasus and the recent Penang Gold Cup winner Lucky Magic, to name a few, to shine and hold their own.

There will be more youngsters coming on the scene in the months ahead.

To find more Antipodeans and Witnessimpacts, SLTC delegation comprising of current and would-be owners, trainers and industry players attended the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in 2023 and again last year.

But for tomorrow, the nine-race card promises to be a thrilling spectacle.

Champion trainer Simon Dunderdale looks determined to defend his crown with 13 runners. Jockey Ruzaini Supien will aim to make it back-to-back titles this season.

Aiman Nazir, who captured the apprentice title last year with 30 winners (six times his tally of the previous two seasons) and finished fourth in the overall table, will no doubt ride on that momentum.

There are a lot more at stakes for everyone in the new season.

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