KUALA LUMPUR: January 31, 2025

Faithful Leader atoned for his expensive failure in his Malaysian debut last time out to win the RM53,000 Japan Racing Association Trophy at Sungai Besi today to give trainer Richard Lim his first win in Malaysia.

It was also the first success in the country for Malaysian-born apprentice jockey Akmazani Marzuki who has been cutting his teeth in Singapore in the last couple of seasons.

Faithful Leader was installed odds-on favourite four weeks ago in a Class 3 sprint over 1020m on the No. 2 track. He was well up with the leader in the early running but faded to finish seventh, after which he was found to have returned lame off-fore.

Faithful Leader, who had a win and two placings in four runs in Australia, was a first-up second in Singapore in late 2022, then won his next start in a Class 4 race in January 2023. The winning rider on that occasion was Akmazani.

With Akmazani back in the saddle, the son of Super One settled well in midfield in today’s Class 3 – 1100m sprint in which Italian Revolution was hoping for better luck after three consecutive second placings and Big Bad Mama was going for his fourth consecutive win. They started first and second favourite.

Big Bad Mama managed to overcome his wide draw (12) with her bright early speed to lead on settling down, chased by Italian Revolution and Dancing Supremo, with a gap of three lengths to Platinum Priority and Darc Bounty racing together. Faithful Leader was among a line of three horses next.

Big Bad Mama led into the straight from Italian Revolution and Dancing Supremo but the rest of the field had closed the gap on the leading group by then, among them Faithful Leader who was switched out wide for his run.

Faithful Leader and Platinum Priority raced past a tiring Big Bad Mama at the 100m and the former raced away in the run home to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Pacific Master and Lim’s Betterready flashed home to take the minor placings.

“He (Faithful Leader) worked very well the last start and we were quite confident (of a win),” said Lim.

“But he failed for no reason and when he came back we couldn’t find anything (wrong with him).

“He then trailled well subsequently and he did it today. I have to thank the owner (Hwa Yi Stable) who was patience with me and the horse.”

“My instructions were to jump well and take the lead if I can, or else to sit behind the pace and let the horse settle down and relax,” said Akmazani.

“Even though we were a bit far behind the leader, I was always confident that the horse will run on well.”

Faithful Leader had a win and two third placings in four runs at three in Australia.

Despite spending 24 months on the sidelines, the six-year-old is truly back in form.

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