Fairway's Turf Online

Wecando proves a money-spinner in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Mar 24, 2024

WECANDO winning the Class 3 - 1075m sprint on the No. 2 track — SLTC photo

Nine-year-old WECANDO has been a money-spinner for his owners since his transfer to trainer Frank Maynard in the middle of last year.

After finishing unplaced in his Malaysian debut last October, the New Zealand gelding has gone on to finish on board in all his subsequent eight runs, winning twice in Class 4 and placed five times.

Promoted to Class 3, WECANDO was placed twice before tackling a Metro A event on the No 2 track at Sungai Besi last month. He finished third to HIGH WATER in that race over 1075m.

The son of Per Incanto was a little disappointing when he could only manage fourth to NO REGRETS over 1200m here last week.

Lim Shung Uai, who scored on WECANDO in the only previous occasion he rode the gelding, was back in the saddle.

The partnered clicked again as they came from off the pace early to win the Class 3 - 1075m sprint on the No 2 track here today.

The field was well stretched out in the early running but bunched up as the runners made the turn into the straight. SURE WILL DO and KASSAB, who battled for the lead on settling down, led into the straight from MAGIC TURBO, the second favourite, and HIGH WATER, the RM14 favourite. Behind them WECANDO was winding up for a run.

KASSAB got the better of SURE WILL DO at the 150m but WECANDO had closed the gap to tail them by just a length right then. WECANDO shot to the front shortly after and won drawing away by two lengths.

"The pace was quite fast quite so I just stayed in comfortable spot early," said Lim.

"I started my chase from the 600m. The frontrunners started to tire in the straight."

"Nice horse," Maynard said of WECANDO.

"He has won three races (in Malaysia) now but could have won six!. He had no luck in a couple of races.

"He has been a good purchase for the owners (Grasshopper Stable). We bought him cheap from Singapore. He can take the next step. He is not quite up to Class 1 but outside of it he will be very handy.

"He is a sound horse so hopefully will be around for some time."

WECANDO won six races in 49 starts spanning five and a half years at Kranji.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1175M (TRACK 2)
7	GENERATION M	R Lines	S Zulfikri	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Civics - Stellar Heights by Al Akbar)
10	Rainbow Fish	EP Tan	PH Seow	2
3	Luke Man	S Hamilton	H Haikal	3
6	Qiji Star	S Dunderdale	J Daniel	4

2	CLASS 5 - 1175M (TRACK 2)
10	ROYALTY'S WISH	C Leck	SU Lim	1
	(5 b.nz.h Ocean Park - Elly May by Fastnet Rock)
3	You Think So	V Sivan	F Yusoff	2
1	Flying Baby	CC Ooi	H Haikal	3
2	Howl	SY Lim	S Hafis	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1175M (TRACK 2)
2	STARLIGHT GLIMMER	S Siva	S Zulfikri	1
	(3 gr.nz.g Zacinto - Queen Of Navarre by Guillotine)
5	Our Final Offer	S Hamilton	S Ruzaini	2
7	Pacific Windsor	KC Tiang	KC Tham	3
1	Clergyman	F Maynard	SU Lim	4

4	CLASS 4 - 1175M (TRACK 2)
2	MAJESTIC WAY	HY Cheng	R Shafiq	1
	(5 b.a.g Hinchinbrook - Shamardal Gold by Shamardal)
5	From The Navy	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
9	Rich N Powerful	EP Tan	S Ruzaini	3
1	Dragon Cavallo	HY Cheng	AB Riduan	4

5	CLASS 3 - 1075M (TRACK 2)
8	WECANDO	F Maynard	SU Lim	1
	(9 b.rnz.g Per Incanto - Magic Daze by Grosvenor)
6	Flying Durumi	S Hamilton	S Ruzaini	2
2	Kassab	AB Abdullah	I Fikri	3
7	Golden Peach	C Leck	Clyde Leck	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1075M (TRACK 2)
6	CAPTAIN TWENTY TWO	HY Cheng	AB Riduan	1
	(4 b.nz.g Savabeel - Miss Selby by O'Reilly)
1	Olympia	S Dunderdale	Clyde Leck	2
3	Born To Win	WC Lim	M Lukman	3
7	Montana Flash	V Sivan	F Yusoff	4

7	CLASS 5 - 1775M (TRACK 2)
2	MAINSTREAM	C Leck	S Hafis	1
	(5 b.nz.h Highly Recommended - Pinaz by Pins)
5	Silent Prince	C Leck	Clyde Leck	2
4	Famous Name	AB Abdullah	KC Tham	3
7	D'Great Swift	R Lines	S Zulfikri	4

8	CLASS 5 - 1275M (TRACK 2)
4	BUSINESS CLASS	SY Lim	S Hafis	1
	(5 b.a.g Winning Rupert - Strykum by Stryker)
5	Candy Rain	F Maynard	J Daniel	2
1	Elusive Emperor	S Hamilton	SU Lim	3
2	Tangesh	C Leck	S Ruzaini	4