September 11, 2025

Time for Noah Khan, Good Star and King Of Sixty-One to shine

With a huge day of racing looming ever so close at the Selangor Turf Club, horses engaged in the main events of the day – the Selangor Gold Cup and the TabCorp Trophy – were out on the training track on Sept 10.

But, as expected, none were consumed with the idea of beating the clock.

Indeed, the order of the morning from the trainers must have been to simply loosen up.

Well, that is precisely what some of the riders and runners in the two top races on Sept 14 did.

Take the gallop tossed in by Good Star.

The Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) lightweight chance (52kg) truly owned the morning when he covered the 600m in an impressive time of 37.6sec.

It was a clear sign that the son of Shalaa has already recovered from his gutsy win in a competitive 1,800m race in Open company just a fortnight ago, on Aug 31.

Right now, trainer Mahadi Taib’s new stable star is obviously holding that form but there will still be questions asked.

With a lowly rating of 73, it remains to be seen if he can take on the likes of potential race favourite Antipodean, who is on 107.

Well, this is horse racing not nuclear physics and we have, in the past, seen the urchins beating the aristocrats especially with the swing in weights. Good Star is in receipt of 7kg from Antipodean.

So, when Race 8 comes along on Sept 14, do not be too hasty in brushing aside the chances of a tough brawler like Good Star.

In the TabCorp Trophy Supreme A (1,200m), the sixth event on the 11-race card, Noah Khan looks a standout. As he gears up towards what could turn out to be his eighth career win, trainer Siva Kumar put him through his paces on the training track.

But, unlike Good Star, Noah Khan’s work was restricted to some serious cantering.

Noah Khan’s path leading to the TabCorp Trophy sprint has been thorough and well planned out.

Indeed, one could say, he is as ready as ready can be.

The seven-year-old son of Swiss Ace was an impressive winner on Aug 3, when overcoming a wide trip for most of the 1,200m to beat Filial Dragon by three parts of a length to bring up his haul of victories to seven.

Following that win, Siva gave his charge some well-deserved R & R and a fresh-looking Noah Khan returned to the track on Sept 3 for a trial which he won in a smart time of 59.72sec.

He easily broke the minute mark and did it in style when demolishing his rivals and taking the hit-out by three lengths.

Right now, Noah Khan looks to be in a good place.

The rough edges seem to have been knocked off and he appears to be as right as a racehorse can be.

While Pacific Vampire will be out there thirsting for blood, the pull in weights – Pacific Vampire’s 59kg to Noah Khan’s 56.5kg – could and might swing the pendulum Noah Khan’s way.

Then there is the Horse City Trophy, a Supreme B (1,600m) which is Race 9 on the day and will feature the “Platinum pair” of Platinum Royale and Platinum Glory.

As the first reserve in the line-up, Platinum Glory was a doubtful starter until Pasir Pinji became a scratching on veterinary advice.

However, and while Ricky Choi’s runners might dominate the betting, King Of Sixty-One could take on the role of spoiler.

The former Kranji-based galloper would have earned a thumbs-up after his morning’s work, which saw him run the 600m in 38.8sec.

Now under the charge of Abdullah Aboo Bakker, King Of Sixty-One comes into the reckoning on the back of a decent last-start effort when he finished fourth to Sacred Buddy.

That, after being slow to get into stride and having to race wide.

The Irish-bred knows how to win races. Indeed, he has already won five and has placed second on seven occasions, all from 23 starts.

However, those wins and placings came when he was under the tutelage of 2022 Singapore champion trainer Tim Fitzsimmons at Kranji.

King Of Sixty-One has still to find his mojo at his Selangor stables. But, in fairness, he has only had three starts in Malaysia.

And none of those races was over his pet distance of 1,600m.

He gets the trip on Sept 14 and with the benefit of this most recent gallop under his girth, perhaps he is finally ready to bring his Kranji form over to Sungai Besi.

Source : Brian Miller