BRANSOM and PACIFIC VAMPIRE completed the quinella in a 1020m Metro A contest here on September 28 and the pair will clash again in the 1100m Supreme A (Race 7) this Sunday.
Pacific Vampire is a fast beginner which is rarely overhauled over the sprint journeys but that was the case when Bransom , displaying his quick turn of foot over the concluding stages, was able to cause the minor upset. Once again it looks like PACIFIC VAMPIRE will be leading in a race devoid of early speed but is capable of reversing the result. THUNDEROUS is a horse which has rapidly progressed through the grades this year and should be competitive. His lack of early speed can work against him however, especially against the high graders but cannot be underestimated if the speed is genuine.
The 1400m Safar Gemilang Cup (Race 8) should be fought out by three last start winners Vgor , IRISH GOODBYE and RED SUN. VGOR recorded his second Malaysian win here a fortnight ago thus producing his second victory over Sunday's track and distance. With the 2kg weight penalty he is a chance of going back to back with Troy See retaining the ride. IRISH GOODBYE belied his betting drift to produce a fighting 2.75 length victory on his local debut back on September 14.
Despite his good trial form prior, the local punters steered away from the Brazilian four year old which went around at RM103 on the win tote. He displayed terrific speed from the barrier eleven and from barrier three after scratchings, he is a chance of maintaining a locally unbeaten record. RED SUN had the race run to suit when scoring over 1400m last start. The six year old settled off a generous speed before sprinting away to win 2.5 lengths in 1.24.09 on the yielding track. RED SUN has recorded the fastest time for the journey at 1.22.4, a time he established in June this year and on current form will tale some catching also.
The 1800m Safar247 Asia Pacific Cup (Race 100 has attracted a small but quality lineup including recent Merdeka Cup winner GOOD STAR and G1 Selangor Gold Cup runner up BERRY BLISS. GOOD STAR displayed his familiar turn of speed when taking out the listed feature on August 31 prior to spelling. Caught wide for most of the way from barrier twelve, GOOD STAR showed his class at his first attempt over 1800m and his progress against the top graders will be interesting heading into his second Malaysian campaign. BERRY BLISS is a former Group One winner and was back to his best form in the Selangor Gold Cup on September 14.
The seven year old received every chance in the drama fuelled contest and should not be discarded. ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN was an impressive trial winner defeating local star Antipodean prior to making his local debut on September 6. The widely travelled Brazilian bred performer ran out of condition when finishing 4th after leading but his last start effort when finishing runner up behind the promising Golden Pegasus suggest he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. He has won up to 2000m and appears primed third up on the distance rise. He should attract plenty of market support again this weekend. BIG HEARTED is a former group winner in Singapore and despite his age of nine, continues to race well at this level as he showed when producing his familiar turn of acceleration to score over 1600m last start.
