KUALA LUMPUR:  Oct 16, 2022

Placed in three Cups in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all big races in the last two years, BLACK THORN finally have a big one to his name when he triumphed in the Selangor Gold Cup at Sungei Besi here today. 

Ridden by bang-in-form jockey Rueven Ravindra who rode six winners in Ipoh last Sunday, the New Zealand gelding settled in a perfect third spot on the rails behind pacemaker EYE GUY with VIOLET in close attendance.

VIOLET headed off a rapidly tiring EYE GUY at the 400m with BLACK THORN pulled to the outside and poised for a run.

BLACK THORN collared VIOLET at the 200m and started to pull away. Just then, KONG FU PANDA also came into the picture and soon after LONELY BOY as well. But BLACK THORN had already stolen a run on them and went to the line 1 1/2 lengths clear.

KONG FU PANDA finished second and LONELY BOY, who was held up for a run momentarily at the 400m, had to settle for third.

In winning, BLACK THORN set a new course time of 1 min. 33.97 secs. The previous record of 1 min. 34.30 secs. was set by LISTEN in 2016.

BLACK THORN cost just NZ$6,000 as a two-year-old at the Ready To Run sale and landed in Malaysia unraced in 2017. From early on, the son of Redwood showed potential with four wins in his first eight starts.

In 2019, he proved himself to be one of the best in the country, finishing second in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m), second in the Coronation Cup (1600m) and third in the Penang Gold Cup (2000m).

BLACK THORN has been lightly races in the last year but proved still as good as ever although he is getting on in years.

As an eight-year-old in the first half of the year, the son of Redwood won three races and he was rested after winning his last start in a Supreme A event over 1600m here in June.

After that success, his connections rested the veteran galloper with today’s race in mind. Today was his first outing as a nine-year-old.

“There is no issue with him,” assistant trainer Rio Burnett explained about the four-month break in racing. “We just wanted to make sure that he makes the field on the basis of his last win. I think he is the best horse in the country.”

For Rueven, his prediction for BLACK THORN after riding him for the first time and winning on the gelding back in June had come true.

“He can go far, perhaps picking up a big race later on” was what Rueven said then.

“I am just thankful I was given the ride again,” he said

In collaboration with :