KUALA LUMPUR: December 8, 2024

Placed just twice in 20 starts in Singapore, Red Dragonfly has found his wings since coming to Malaysia and is one of the most improved horses who have crossed the causeway this year.

The son of Rubick was rated near-minimum 22 points when he landed in the yards of trainer Ooi Chin Chin last June but something in the water in Kuala Lumpur must have agreed with the gelding.

Red Dragongly won the first two of three trials before running true to his trial form to win first-up over 1150m at Sungai Besi last Oct 26. He was the lowest-rated runner in that race but you would never know by the way he accounted for his rivals.

To prove that his debut win was no flash in the pan, the four-year-old followed up with a runaway win, also over 1150m, at the same track last month to the delight of punters who sent him out the odds-on favourite this time.

Red Dragonfly, now rated 35, not only faced a sterner test in the Class 5 – 1275m sprint at Sungai Besi today, but had to start in the outside barrier 10 on the No. 2 track. By no means an easy task.

Despite that punters kept their faith and installed him favourite again.

Gurney Drive jumped best and immediately set the pace. Red Dragonfly also got off to a good start and quickly overcame his wide draw to race up to the leader when the field settled down.

The pair matched stride-for-stride till the 200m mark when Red Dragonfly started to pull away from Gurney Drive.

Red Dragonfly went on to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Gurney Drive held on for second from Surfing Club who was doing good work at the finish.

“He came to my stables with no form but the change of environment has done him good,” said Ooi.

“He’s winning in Class 5 only but getting better with each run. He is only four years old.

“Khaw (Choon Kit) rode him to perfection from barrier 10 today.”

“He was drawn wide but I was confident of a win because he is in very good form,” said Khaw who has ridden Red Dragonfly in all his three wins in Malaysia so far.

“He jumped out well and I just sat comfortably in second spot. In the straight, he gave me plenty. He is a very good horse and I hope to win on him again.”