KUALA LUMPUR: April 5, 2025

The phenomenal rise of two ex-Kranji horses, Stop The Water and Red Dragonfly, in Malaysia continues at Sungai Besi today but both horses had to dig deep to find success.

Stop The Water won three of 15 starts at Kranji and was struggling for form towards of the end of racing in Singapore last year before joining trainer Richard Lines’ yards.

The Headwater gelding won first-up on Malaysia, albeit he had to share honours with Snow Dragon in a deadheat in a Class 4A clash over 1020m on the No. 2 track.

Both horses won promotion, and the pair met again in a 1200m sprint only for Stop The Water to lose narrowly by a head.

But Stop The Water bounced back quickly, winning over 1020m two weeks ago and backed it up with another fighting display over the same trip today.

Dancing Light was the early leader just ahead of Stop The Water but racing past the 600m, Big Bad Mama took over and held a narrow lead into the straight.

Dancing Light was next on his inside and right behind them were Platinum Priority and Stop The Water.

Dancing Light hit the front at the 200m when Big Bad Mama came under pressure but Stop The Water was looming large on the outside.

Stop The Water, ridden by Laercio De Souza, collared Dancing Liight with 100m to go. They then fought stride-for-stride to the line with Stop The Water winning by a neck.

Without a win in 20 starts in Singapore, Red Dragonfly came over to join trainer Ooi Chin Chin in the middle of last year with a rating of just 22 points.

The Rubick gelding was totally transformed within three months of his arrival and reeled off five wins from Class 5 to Class 4, winning over distances from 1150m to 1500m.

Red Butterfly’s wings were clipped for the first time when he finished fifth to Legend Of Niagara over 1400m a month ago.

That result, and the fact that the four-year-old was drawn wide (10) today, might have out off punters as he went off at generous odds (RM39) in the Class 4A – 1400m contest today.

Red Dragonfly had to race three-wide early before regular jockey Khaw Choon Kit could work his way to travelling third passing the 800m.

Red Dragonfly was within one length of the pacemaker So We Fight going into the straight who refused to give in until the 200m when Red Butterfly finally got the upper hand.

Red Dragonfly went on to win by 3/4 length ahead of the fast-finishing Castelo with equal Eternal Romance third. The other equal favourite, Legend Of Niagara, was never in the hunt after a slow start and beat one home.

Both Stop The Water and Red Dragonfly are only four years old and will have a big day in the age group races in the coming months.

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