Fairway's Turf Online

Phenomenal rise lands Pasir Pinji cup win

KUALA LUMPUR: Sep 17, 2023

PASIR PINJI collars BERRY BLISS close home to win the Selangor
Gold Cup - SLTC photo

The phenomenal rise of PASIR PINJI, named after a new village in Ipoh, will forever earn a place in the annals of horse racing in Malaysia.

The New Zealand gelding arrived from Singapore with just one win in Open Maiden in 18 starts at Kranji.

A year ago this month, the son of Nadeem made a winning start to his Malaysian campaign, winning a Class 5B race. He swiftly made progress with eight wins in 10 more starts but was still a Class 4 horse last May.

PASIR PINJI was pitted against much stronger opposition twice last month and came out with flying colours both times in Stayers Stakes B and Supreme C events.

The stage was then set for the seven-year-old to take on the best in the Hygain Horse City Selangor Gold Cup over 1600m at Sungei Besi today.

Bernado Pinheiro, who had scored twice on the gelding in previous visits to the capital this year, took the ride and what a brilliant one it was.

BERRY BLISS led on settling down from AWESOME STORM in a well bunch-up field. PASIR PINJI settled in midfield.

BERRY BLISS led into the straight just ahead of AWESOME STORM and SINCERELY with a gap to the rest who seemingly struggled to keep up.

AWESOME STORM tried and tried under Jose De Souza to get to BERRY BLISS and came within half a length of the leader at the 200m.

Meanwhile, Pinheiro was winding up PASIR PINJI for a final effort and at the 200m mark they had moved up to fourth. BERRY BLISS beat off AWESOME STORM 100m out but found on answer when PASIR PINJI pounced on his outside. PASIR PINJI won by half a length.

"I couldn't be happier with the results," said Pinheiro who also won on MASTER BABY earlier in the day. "I first won on him four months ago. He (PASIR PINJI) is a small horse with a big heart.

"Thank God everything went well. I had a good cover and made him breathe and relax. In the straight, he gave me everything."

"What a little ripper horse PASIR PINJI is," exclaimed trainer Simon Dunderdale after the race. "He arrived from Singapore and won his first race for us in Class 5B. Now he is a Group 1 winner. Great ride from Bernardo."

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1250M
7	QIJI AUSTON	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	1
	(6 b.a.g Spirit Of Boom - Light Emmission by Grosvenor)
11	Qiji Love	M Sukri	KP Lim	2
4	Dragon Sands	KC Tiang	R Nuqman	3
9	Tigress	R Lines	M Seelan	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1400M
2	MASTER BABY	HY Cheng	B Pinheiro	1
	(5 b.nz.g Wrote - Mango Daiquiri by Cape Cross)
8	Fardus	M Sukri	S Ruzaini	2
1	Elite Saint	I Ismadi	R Nuqman	3
4	Nicator	R Lines	WW Cheah	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1200M
4	NAUGHTY KID	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(7 b.nz.g Shamexpress - Hollywood Angel by Dehere)
2	Aguero Jr	MW Teh	S Ruzaini	2
6	RS Diago	WC Lim	M Lukman	3
9	Tun O'Reilly	S Hamilton	SU Lim	4

4	PLATINUM HORSE ENTERPRENEUR CLUB MALAYSIA DAY TROPHY
4	METRO A (SW) - 1200M
8	MR HANKS	S Ellis	AB Riduan	1
	(9 b.nz.g Showcasing - Zafonique by Bigstone)
4	Gold Sky Billion	KC Tiang	B Pinheiro	2
9	Terms Of Reference	S Hamilton	KC Tham	3
10	Magnitude	SY Lim	J Low	4

5	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
1	SHIMI GO	HY Cheng	AB Riduan	1
	(5 b.nz.g Burgundy - Corsage by Volksraad)
3	One Final Offer	S Hamilton	R Nuqman	2
8	Charming Win	S Dunderdale	B Pinheiro	3
2	Kwazii	S Siva	R Rueven	4

6	HORSE CITY STAKES
6	METRO A (SW) - 1200M
2	GAMESTONKS	C Leck	Clyde Leck	1
	(7 b.nz.g Showcasing - Danasia by Danehill)
6	No Fun No Gain	NM Selvan	Z Khairil	2
9	Fa Fa Star	S Dunderdale	B Pinheiro	3
3	Kerauno	S Hamilton	J De Souza	4

7	TAN SRI NELSON TAN CELEBRITIES TROPHY
7	STAYERS STAKES A (SW) - 1700M
3	XENA	HY Cheng	AB Riduan	1
	(7 b.nz.m Proisir - Lady Illicit by Sir Percy)
9	Nordic Gem	S Hamilton	M Ewe	2
10	Khan Pegasus	WC Lim	M Lukman	3
7	Show Hand	L Moy	KC Tham	4

8	MALAYSIAN CELEBRITIES TROPHY
8	CLASS 4 - 1500M
7	INTREPID	S Siva	R Rueven	1
	(7 b/br.a.m Blackfriars - Razzia by Scenic)
6	Semantan Prince	S Dunderdake	J De Souza	2
5	Bleu Marine	HY Cheng	HK Cheng	3
9	Air Boss	WC Lim	AK Lim	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1500M
11	FAMOUS NAME	AB Abdullah	E Ferreira	1
	(6 br.a.g Pendragon - Cool And Chic by Montjeu)
2	Joey	S Hamilton	SU Lim	2
10	Golden Lightning	WC Lim	AK Lim	3
7	Harvest	R Lines	S Ruzaini	4

10	HYGAIN HORSE CITY SELANGOR GOLD CUP
10	OPEN (SW) - 1600M
13	PASIR PINJI	S Dunderdale	B Pinheiro	1
	(7 b.nz.g Nadeem - Mistaar by Iffraaj)
2	Berry Bliss	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
1	Awesome Storm	S Dunderdale	J De Souza	3
11	Kong Fu Panda	KC Tiang	R Nuqman	4

11	CLASS 5 - 1400M
5	GENERAL CHENG	KC Tiang	R Rueven	1
	(8 gr.a.g Pitleco - Dancing Feet by Middle Kingdom)
1	Flaming Phoenix	KC Tiang	B Pinheiro	2
7	MGR Rocket	NM Selvan	Z Khairil	3
3	Happy Birthday	HY Cheng	HK Cheng	4

12	CLASS 5 - 1250M
2	CANDY RAIN	F Maynard	A Najib	1
	(6 ch.a.m Manhattan Rain - High Ideal by Bel Esprit)
10	Isle Of Sky	WC Lim	E Ferreira	2
8	What A Boss	EP Tan	M Ekdihar	3
1	Mainstream	C Leck	A Suriya	4