KUALA LUMPUR:  Nov 20, 2022

It was third time lucky for WHITE HOOF BIRD when he ran out a comfortable winner in the RM150,000 Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup over 1400m at Sungei Besi here today. 

Nearly 12 months ago, the Australian gelding had his first crack at a big race in the same Cup but finished sixth to VIOLET after being well back in the running.

Last April, WHITE HOOF BIRD came home fifth to runaway winner AWESOME STORM in the Tunku Gold Cup.

The son of Denman has performed consistently against some of the big names since then and raised his game a notch today to clinch his eighth win in 15 starts in Malaysia.

Apprentice Nuqman Faris Rozi, who landed his first trophy when he rode VIOLET to victory in the Cup last year, made the switch to ride WHITE HOOF BIRD and made the difference on the six-year-old today.

Nuqman had his mount settling just off the pace in fifth spot as the field settled down. WHITE HOOF BIRD moved up to third at the top of the straight and at this stage, the pacemaker GINGERELLA had made a breakaway to be three to four lengths clear.

But the leader went too early and could not sustained her run. She soon came under pressure. WHITE HOOF BIRD caught up with her at the 200m and raced away to win by two lengths.

“My instructions were to get into a handy position which I was able to,” said Nuqman who is the most improved rider from last year when he rode 14 winners. “In the end my horse won easily.”

With today’s win, Nuqman now sits sixth on the jockey’s table with 37 wins.

WHITE HOOF BIRD came to Malaysia with a record of one win in a Maiden at Goulburn and three placings in eight starts in Australia.

He made an immediate impact and was unbeaten in his first five runs in the country.

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