3 January 2025, Kuala Lumpur

The new racing season commences with increased stakes across the board and an exciting racing calendar for the Selangor Turf Club with plenty of excitement and build up to one of the bigger seasons for the past few years. The first meeting for 2025 takes place on Saturday the 4th of January with a nine race card taking centre stage. 

Surfing Cloud could be the one to open up the season in the first race over 1300m for the HY Cheng stable. The former Singapore galloper has had the two starts in Malaysia for a second and third placing behind Red Dragonfly on both occasions. Red Dragonfly is unbeaten in four starts in Malaysia and on that formline alone, Surfing Cloud does stand out from the rest of the field. Respect for Jing Jin who returns after a break after an impressive 7,75 length victory in his last start. 

Khan Pegasus looks primed to run a big race in race 4 from barrier 2. He’ll have the 3kg apprentice claim to assist him and has yet to have missed the first three in his starts over track and trip. Last start he was drawn widest of all but still managed to run a gutsy race when finishing 1,75 lengths off the winner in third. 

So We Fight steps out in race 5 and was a little disappointing in his last start but it was over a distance short of his best. He won two on the bounce prior to his last run in class 4 company and steps up to 1400m now. Expect a much better effort this time round. However, it is a tricky race as Ocean Jupiter won his last start in Singapore and is now first up in Malaysia from gate 1. Prince Lonhro and class dropper Castelo can surprise at good value. 

To close off the meeting, Thunder Star could be the right one after winning first up in Malaysia by 1,5 lengths. He received a 7 point penalty for that win but he should be able to show further improvement from that local debut win and could be the one they have to beat. Respect for Good Chilli who has won two from three in Malaysia and is better than that last run where he finished fourth behind Monday.

Devon Pretorius