May 14, 2025

Storm Pegasus and Storm Titan blow rivals away at May 14 trials, ready to show mettle

On a track rated yielding, two “Storms” blew in at the trials held at the Selangor Turf Club on the morning of May 14.

They came in quick succession, taking the second and third trials in rather convincing fashion.

First to show off was Storm Pegasus and he was to be followed by Storm Titan.

A Belardo three-year-old from the stables of Ananthen Kuppan, Storm Pegasus is shaping up to be a really good one to have in the yard.

Running on grass in the second trial of the morning, he clocked 1min 1.34sec for that 1,000m sprint.

He had Azizi Azhari in the saddle and there was never a chance that he could be beaten.

Trainer Jerome Tan’s Benbo, partnered by Akmazani Marzuki took second, which left the Tan Eng Peow-trained Steel Cutter (Shazmin Sudin) far behind in third spot.

Storm Pegasus has been off the boil recently but rewind to the tailend of the 2024 season and the beginning of this current one and you will be reminded just how talented a galloper he is.

At his third start on Dec 15, Storm Pegasus smashed his rivals when winning a competitive Open Maiden 1,200m sprint by over five lengths.

It was an explosive performance and he repeated it at his next start on Jan 4.

That day, under Andre da Silva, he beat Joju by almost three lengths – going away at the finish of that 1,150m affair.

It looked like he would make it three on the bounce but, at his next start on Jan 31, Atlante Legend stole the thunder and Storm Pegasus had to settle for second spot – beaten by a mere nose in a blanket finish.

He had a break of 47 days before Ananthen sent him to the trials where, on March 17, he ran second to Rocky Bhai.

As mentioned, his form then took a dip and he was an also-ran at his next two outings.

If there has been anything amiss with Storm Pegasus of late, it all seems in the past.

His win at the trials tells us that he is getting close to his best form and it could pay to monitor his progress.

As for Storm Titan, we have yet to see him face the starter in a competitive setting.

But on the strength of his easy win at the trials, we could be looking at another good one to emerge from trainer Richard Lim’s barn.

Running in the third hit-out of the morning and ridden by Uzair Sharudin, he beat Selangor Brown and Bingo Master, the mount of Akmazani.

The winning margin was two lengths. It could easily have been further for the son of Ace High.

Still a three-year-old, Storm Titan does look like he is a galloper to reckon with and a good showing at his racing debut – whenever that may be – should not come as much of a surprise.

Kim Emperor, winner of the opening trial of the morning, falls into that same category.

He too is not far away from a win.

Like Storm Titan, Kim Emperor has yet to be sent out for a race.

But trainer Richard Lines, who prepares Kim Emperor for the Aladdin Racing Stable, will surely be already mapping out a programme for his galloper who, on May 14, turned in the fastest 1,000m gallop of the morning.

Ridden by Cheah Wei Wen and jumping from one of the inside gates, Kim Emperor beat Super Baby (Marc Lerner) by three parts of a length. Shang Chi (Khaw Choon Kit) took third, a further half length away.

The winner eventually stopped the clock at 1:01.13.

Now a four-year-old, Kim Emperor was based in Flemington with the Hayes brothers before being flown out to join Lines’ yard.

While in Australia where he raced as It’sreel, he took second in two races at Sale in Victoria.

At his last start, he ran third in a three-year-old maiden event over the mile at Ararat on Nov 10.

While he has yet to strut his stuff in Malaysia, Kim Emperor looks a likeable sort and Lines could have a good one in the yard.

Source : Brian Miller