On his first day back after ending his stay in South Korea, Jimmy Wong Chin Chuen – the jockey for the big occasion – landed the biggest win in the country of his birth in the RM1mil Selangor Mile (1600m) astride Aquitaine at Sungai Besi today.

In the race prior, Wong was off the mark on Lucky Eight One.

Before South Korea, Wong rode successfull in Singapore, winning numerous Group 1 races at Kranji including the Kranji Mile, Raffles Cup and Lion City Cup with top horses like Lim’s Kosciuszko, Lim’s Lightning and Lim’s Saltoro.

While based across the causeway, he made the occasional trips home to ride at Sungai Besi, winning the 2024 Sports Toto Challenge Cup on Antipodean, trained by Simon Dunderdale.

And it was his partnership with Dunderdale that landed him the million-ringgit prize for four-year-olds today

“I worked him (Aquitaine) during the week and he worked well,” said Wong.

“I expected him to run a good race but didn’t quite expect him to win.

“At the post I thought I finished second. Winning was a bonus.”

It was Storm Titan who beat the 16-horse capacity field to the lead after the jump with Navarre, the mount of visiting jockey Jett Stanley, in second spot and a host of horses in a tight bunch behind them.

Navarre eventually took over the running to lead from Banker’s Smile and Banker’s Happy at the 800m. The came Storm Titan, Irish Goodbye, Duma, Trees Of Valinor, Pacific Energy and Aquataine.

Navarre was a clear leader going into the straight with Banker’s Smile in second spot, followed tightly by Irish Goodbye, Banker’s Happy, Storm Titan and Duma. The rest were within touching distance. Fortune Tree was switched wide for his run while Aquataine was on the inside of horses.

Navarre was still clear with 200m to go with the rest of the field stretched across the track almost in a line.

Aquitaine found an opening between runners and took the lead from a tiring Navarre soon after. Fortune Tree also emgered from the pack to go after Aquataine.

Aquitaine, however, fought on gamely and just held on to beat Fortune Tree by a head. Anjou Crown finished strongly to take third placing, half a length away.

“He (Aquitaine) was the first to qualify for this race several weeks ago and was the best drawn (barrier 4 after scratchings) of my three runners,” said Dunderdale.

Dunderdale also saddled Anjou Crown (drawn 12 after scratchings) and Navarre (barrier 10) who set the pace and eventually faded in the run home to finish 14th.

“He (Aquitaine) came from (trainer) Chris Waller’s yards and had decent record around Sydney so we didn’t improve much with him.”

Aquitaine landed as a maiden, having finished on board in five of his six starts in Australia and cost just A$80,000 as a 3YO in an online sale.

He was placed in his first six runs in the country, winning twice over 1300m and 1500m.

Aquitaine finished unplaced (for the first time) behind Anjou Crown in a revamped Class 2 race two weeks ago and was understandably neglected in the betting. He paid RM267 for a win.

“Aquitaine and Anjou Crown will now head to the Selangor Gold Cup (in September),” said Dunderdale.