8 May 2026, Kuala Lumpur

An exciting 13-race card is on the program for this Sunday at the Selangor Turf Club including the Chairman’s Trophy for RM100,000 which has attracted not only some of Malaysia’s best horses, but some international jockeys who will be in Malaysia for the next few months.

The return of fan-favourite Bernardo Pinheiro will certainly attract some interest after a stellar season in Dubai finishing third overall in the Jockey Championship. He has a total of 9 rides throughout the day and reunites with Antipodean in the Chairman’s Trophy which is one of the best partnerships between jockey and horse in the country with the combination having 9 rides, 6 wins, 1 second and a third. Antipodean steps up to the mile after hitting the line well in his last start over 1400m and seems like he is just about to peak this preparation. The horse to beat is arguably Banker’s Two Six after a disappointing run in the Perak Derby but he’s back at his home ground and is unbeaten over course and distance with three wins from three starts. Pinheiro will be a busy man with a total of nine rides across the meeting.

Liam Riordan returns to Malaysia – after two wins in his first weekend – and teams up with the S Dunderdale stable with Thunderous in the feature race. A four-time winner from fourteen starts in Malaysia, Thunderous steps up to 1600m for the first time in his career but his last start does suggest the rise in trip won’t be a problem as he settled back in the race and ran on well to finish fifth over 1400m. However, whether he is up to this class over this distance remains a query and he will be an upset winner if he can beat the likes of Antipodean and Banker’s Two Six. Riordan has six rides in total on Sunday and is reunited with Fire who he won on during his previous stay.

The best bet for the day shapes up in the following race in race 10 with Trees Of Valinor from the F Maynard stable. Off the back of a last start win beating Campionessa by a short head, he looks well prepped to win in a similar field once again and from barrier 4, he should get the run of the race with KC Wong in the saddle. A four-time winner in the country already and five second’s, he looks like a progressive sort and as a four-year-old, he’ll have his eyes set on qualifying for the Selangor Mile in two months time.

The first race is off at 12pm local time and a word of caution for the form studiers, as there has been plenty of rain this week and already looks like the track will have the sting out the ground with soft underfoot conditions.

Devon Pretorius