10 January 2024, Kuala Lumpur

Racing returns once again to the Selangor Turf Club on Sunday the 12th of January and what a day of racing to look forward to with 11 races on the program. Enthusiastic racegoers will undoubtedly open the race cards and be taken aback by the quality of race 8 which could even qualify as a feature race. With a stake of RM62,000 it should certainly attract some of the best horses around and that’s exactly what it’s done with the return of the fan favourite, Antipodean, who’ll be looking to open up his season over this 1200m trip. However, it might not be as easy as it seems. 

Boasting a record of 9 wins from 10 starts as well as a second placing, Antipodean should be hard to oppose but it would be foolish to overlook the chances of Witnessimpact from the S Dunderdale stable. Like Antipodean, Witnessimpact has only tasted defeat on one occasion in Malaysia in a disappointing effort in his last start when finishing third and beaten by over 2 lengths.  He is much better than that run after not mustering his usual early speed that he shows and taking a few awkward strides around the turn only to hang in the straight as well. He trialled recently with Antipodean beating him by a comfortable margin of over 5 lengths. However, trial form and race form are two completely separate tasks but it was an encouraging sign to see Witnessimpact show his natural cruising speed that he possesses and caught the eye with his physical condition and certainly looks fit and well to run a big race. 

Antipodean wasn’t asked any serious questions in the trial but one could see that as he warmed his way into the trial it would only have taken him a matter of strides to draw level to Witnessimpact. Antipodean has proven his versatility over different distances but is preferred over a slightly further trip compared to a 1200m sprint which is definitely in favour of Witnessimpact who looks like he’ll be an out and out sprinter. The final piece in the puzzle could be the weight. Antipodean will have 58kgs to shoulder with R Shafiq in the saddle compared to the 53,5kgs Witnessimpact will carry thanks to the 2kg allowance due to the booking of PH Seow. Can Antipodean give that much weight away? He is without a doubt the class horse in Malaysia but as the old saying goes, “weight will stop a train”. Speaking of weight, Antipodean isn’t even the top weight as we see the return of Super Salute to the race track and will be making his Malaysian debut. The G2 and 2x G3 winner from Singapore will be an interesting introduction to the Malaysian ranks and certainly deserves respect if he is not in need of the run as it has been 237 days since his last race.

A great race that shouldn’t be missed on a competitive day of racing. The first is off at 12:45 local time.

Devon Pretorius