Antipodean wins Cup as Pinheiro bags six

KUALA LUMPUR:  Sep 9, 2024

Bernardo Pinjeiro rode a personal best six winners at Sungai Besi here today to reach a career total 700 winners.

And to top it all, he captured his third Selangor Gold Cup on ANTIPODEAN to add to his wins on TRUSON in 2019 and PASIR PINJI last year.

Young guns ANTIPODEAN and GOLDEN PEGASUS were the only horses seriously backed to the win the Selangor Gold Cup this year and as expected dominated the finish of the 1600m race.

And what a race it turned out to be. In the end, it was the mastery of Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro that got ANTIPODEAN home ahead of the favourite GOLDEN PEGASUS.

The two horses had swept the Selangor Turf Club age group races this season, with ANTIPODEAN winning the three-year-old series and GOLDEN PEGASUS the four-year-old series.

SINCERELY led early but a very eager AWESOME STORM took over on settling down and set a brisk pace from SINCERELY and CHEVAL BLANC. GOOD FIGHT was next with ANTIPODEAN taking a handy fifth position. GOLDEN PEGASUS was seventh in midfield.

AWESOME STORM led into the straight from CHEVAL BLANC and SINCERELY with GOOD FIGHT and ANTIPODEAN in close attendance. GOLDEN PEGASUS made up nice ground and was within striking distance as well.

ANTIPODEAN and GOLDEN PEGASUS found their gear and raced up to a tiring AWESOME STORM at the 200m while CHEVAL BLANC and GOOD FIGHT could not match their run.

ANTIPODEAN and GOLDEN PEGASUS then raced away from the rest to fight out the finish. GOLDEN PEGASUS was momentarily in front at one stage but ANTIPODEAN fought back gallantly to snatch victory by a head. GOOD FIGHT held on for third, three and a half lengths away.

After the race, jockey Ruzaini Supien on GOLDEN PEGASUS filed a protest against the winner for alleged interference but was dismissed.

“Great effort from ANTIPODEAN,” said trainer Simon Dunderdale.

ANTIPODEAN has now won seven of his eight races and beaten (into second) for the first time last start.

“He’s a tough horse and was caught three-wide most of the way. Bernardo is a terrific jockey. The race proved to be a real battle to the finish and we had to survive a protest.”

“It’s a unforgettable day for me,” said Pinheiro. “I feel explosion of emotions and couldn’t be more happy.”

“First of all, I broke my own record of riding five winners in a meeting which I did twice, here in Kuala Lumpur in 2019 and again in Singapore last year.”

(Pinheiro won on FLASH ONE, RACE FOR FAME, SACRED GALAXY, GYARADOS and MR WOLFF on September 21, 2019. He was succesful on SILO, RICH FORTUNE, REAL EFECTO, TWO MILLION and COSMIC DANCER at Kranji on June 30.)

“Secondly, to win another gold cup, another group 1, I just can’t express how happy I am with that. I have to thank Simon (Dunderdale) and his team and everyone involved for that.”

“Thirdly, with today’s six winners, I have reached 700 wins in my career. For that there is a lot of people I would like to thank for their support. I also thank god for putting all the right people in my career path and gave me strength.”

“ANTIPODEAN was is special, wonderful horse. He ran with his heart, a real fighter, a horse who would not give up.

“We were a bit of worry about the distance, the mile. We were drawn wide so I didn’t have the perfect race, the chance to get closer to the rails. We were caught wide but the horse travelled well so it gave me the confidence.

“At the top of the straight, he shied a bit and hang in. The other horse (GOLDEN PEGASUS) passed me by half a length but I felt my horse wasn’t going to give up. He gave everything for me and I gave him everything.

“It was an amazing day!”

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