Feb 19, 2025

Malaysian trainer’s last-start winner tosses in a smart training gallop on the Kuala Lumpur track

It was on Feb 5 that we pointed you in the direction of Perseverance, who had not won a race since Aug 24, 2024.

Trainer Parama Sivan Veerapen had been patient with his charge and the Impending four-year-old looked ready for another win.

He did just that, beating nine others in the Class 5A race over the 1,500m at Sungai Besi.

Now, Perseverance – who has a date with the starter in the Class 4A contest (1,500m) on Feb 23 – is ripe and ready to put together a race-to-race double.

Racegoers would have been impressed with his last win on Feb 9, but they would be even more convinced after taking note of the work put in by the youngster on the morning of Feb 18.

On a track rated good to yielding, Perseverance ran the 600m in an easy 40.6sec. If anything, it was a good stretch-out in preparation for the assignment on Feb 23.

Having been promoted to Class 4, the former Singapore galloper will race with a light weight of just 52kg on his back.

Bearing in mind that Perseverance carried a heavy load of 59kg when winning last start, the 52kg will feel like a feather on his back.

Also, nothing to worry about the distance. To date, both his wins were over the 1,400m and 1,500m. It tells us that he will be right at home and, with the form he is in, he should be the one going better than the rest over the concluding stages.

However, the Australian-bred must beat some good ones to win in Class 4.

From the morning gallops on Feb 18, a couple of them stood out. They are Emperor Taizong and Commander.

From Tiang Kim Choi’s yard, Emperor Taizong worked with gusto, running the 600m in 39.4sec while the Simon Dunderdale-trained Commander was equally impressive in his gallop, clocking 39sec for the same trip.

An Arlington eight-year-old, Emperor Taizong drops back into Class 4 but he must carry 59kg – which will feel like a ton when push comes to shove.

However, it is worth noting that the last time he was in Class 4, he turned in a winning show.

But that was way back on Aug 30, 2020, when the race was run over the 1,400m at Batu Gantong in Penang. Still, the “Emperor” will relish being back in Class 4 and he must be respected.

As for Commander, he is a young four-year-old who has already started to pay for his keep.

The U S Navy Flag son knows how to win races after having done it on four occasions. At his last win on Dec 8, 2024, he was ridden by Jerlyn Seow and made light work of the soggy track to win by 2¼ lengths.

He produced nothing at his last two runs but his work on the training track does make him a serious contender on Feb 23.

Trainer Ananthen Kuppan, who has entered a team of nine for the meeting at Kuala Lumpur, could be in the winner’s enclosure after the running of the Class 5B sprint (1,020m). He has got a lively contender in Hunter Pegasus.

The Brethren eight-year-old has been running in a rich vein of form and he could inflict some serious damage on his rivals in the coming race. He put in a good training gallop, clocking 37.8sec for the 600m.

Hunter Pegasus ran a decent race on Feb 2, finishing fourth to Sacred Sky over the 1,250m.

Before that, he was involved in a four-way photo finish and had to settle for fourth over the 1,400m on Jan 12. Hence, he should appreciate the shorter trip over 1,020m.

Trainer Frank Maynard has three runners in the Class 4B sprint over the 1,200m and we could see a good run from Tommy Gun. He turned in a good training gallop, running the 600m in 37.8sec.

Previously trained by 2022 Singapore champion trainer Tim Fitzsimmons, the Flying Artie four-year-old won once from five starts at Kranji. He has only raced once in Malaysia on Jan 19 but has been active at the shorter 400m trials.

He has raced over the sharp 1,200m sprints on four occasions and, together with that last hit-out on the morning of Feb 18, he should be a factor on Feb 23.

The top weight of 59kg might be a concern, but he is a big-framed galloper who ran second to Lim’s Shavano when carrying 58kg at his last run in Singapore on Sept 28.

 Source : Brian Miller