Kuala Lumpur, 13 September

In poker, a Royal Flush is deemed to be the strongest hand for a player and that could prove to be the case for trainer HY CHENG who saddles ROYAL FLUSH on Sunday the 15th of September in Race 2, a Class 5 Division A  over 1200m. 

The mare is in hot form of late having won three of her last five starts and should give a bold showing once again under H HAIKAL who has won twice aboard the seven year old mare from the three rides. The only concern is that she has yet to have won over this distance from seven attempts with only a second placing to show from it. However, she should prove to be too good in this field and a chance is taken on her to follow up again. 

There are only eight races on Sunday with some wide open races which could prove tricky for punters but the wider the races, the more value on offer. Race 3 could see the bounce back of Bintang Sixty One after a disappointing effort in his last start but had no luck in running and race wide throughout. Now in barrier four, he should have no problem with finding a good position and should go close to winning. However, N SELVAN saddles the former Singapore galloper DANCING TYCOON who is two from two in Malaysia and is somewhat under the radar with more improvement to come. He does step up in class but he does look better than a Class 5 horse and should have no problem in Class 4 company. 

THUNDERGOD steps out in Race 4 for the S HAMILTON stable and his last effort is best ignored. If he can repeat a similar effort to his penultimate start when winning by 1,75 lengths beating the reopposing Famous Name, he should take some beating. He is a three time winner in this class as well as a winner over this 1700m trip and I am expecting him to bounce back to winning ways.

SHANG CHI finished fourth in a G1 in his penultimate start and followed up by running unplaced in the Listed Charity Cup in Ipoh. All three of his wins have been at the STC and does seem to be the class horse in Race 6 of the afternoon. In Race 7, the former Singapore galloper, SIMON steps out for the F MAYNARD stable for his local debut. He is a three time winner on the turf and brings good form to Malaysia after winning his last start. Watch the market for any support him. on local debut. 

To close off the meeting, YOU THINK SO takes his place in a Class 4B event over 1020m. He was narrowly beaten in his penultimate start by a neck and followed up that effort with a third placing over 1600m behind Garudan. He takes a drastic drop in distance and will jump from barrier five under A NAZIR. With the help of the apprentice claim, he should be quite handy in running and on a fast running Track 2, this will play in his favour and he should be the horse they have to beat in the lucky last.