KUALA LUMPUR:  Mar 18, 2023

Barely shading his maiden status in Singapore and struggling to win again after that, PASIR PINJI has made a remarkable transformation since moving to Malaysia in the middle of last year.

Three months after his arrival in the country, the New Zealand gelding easily accounted for a Class 5 field over 1400m last September. This was followed two more wins in quick succession in Class 5 and 4.

PASIR PINJI was narrowly beaten in his first start of the 2023 season in January but he has bounced back to beat last-start winner TAUBOSS in the Class 4 – 1300m handicap at Sungei Besi here today to make it four wins in five starts. 

Handicapped at 59kg, trainer Simon Dunderdale utilised the 4kg claim by apprentice Tuan Ammar on the six-year-old.

Ammar parked PASIR PINJI just off the rails in fifth spot early before squeezing through a gap between runners at the 400m to go for the lead.

PASIR PINJI hit the front 200m and kicked clear momentarily before TAUBOSS emerged from the chasing pack to after him. TAUBOSS was cutting him down every stride in the closing stages but PASIR PINJI held on to win by half a length.

“PASIR PINJI was a late scratching two months ago after hurting himself in the truck on the way to the races,” said Dunderdale. “The break seems to have been good for him. He was nicely ridden by Ammar today.”

First-season apprentice Ammar said: “I felt my mount had plenty to give when we hit the front at the 200m but it was a lucky win in the end.”

PASIR PINJI raced 18 times in Singapore and his only win came in a Open Maiden event over 1400m. 

In collaboration with :