Energy Baby leads Tan 1-2
KUALA LUMPUR Former five-time Singapore winner Energy Baby has picked up his second win in four starts in Malaysia for trainer Jerome Tan.
The six-year-old grey gelding charged home strongly at the 200m to beat stablemate Big Union by a head on the line in the RM62,000 (S$18,600) Class 2 race (1,400m) at Sungai Besi on April 27.
At his first win in Kuala Lumpur on March 16, Energy Baby accounted for his rivals in a Supreme B race over 1,200m with a neck-win over Faithful Leader.
The Richard Lim-trained Faithful Leader then came out next to run second to 2024 Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) winner Antipodean in a Supreme A contest (1,400m) on April 5.
He met Energy Baby in the field of nine and jumped as the $19 favourite this time.
Tan's second runner, Big Union, won five races in 10 starts for him in Singapore. The Zoustar four-year-old ran fifth to Antipodean in the same race on April 5.
Big Union was looking for his first win in Malaysia at his fourth start, but Energy Baby stole the thunder from his stablemate with a superb ride from Andre da Silva.
Emerald Lisi (Nuqman Rozi) led briefly after the jump, but Faithful Leader (John Sundradas) quickly took over and led from Hurricane (Carlos Henrique) upon settling down.
The pair gradually broke away to a six-length lead from Emerald Lisi in the back straight.
Da Silva, who won on Energy Baby two starts ago on March 16, settled the New Zealand galloper another three lengths away in fourth.
Faithful Leader led turning into the homestraight but Hurricane soon came under pressure and lost ground.
Faithful Leader was still in front at the 200m with Emerald Lisi giving chase, but Energy Baby loomed large behind the two runners.
The son of Rich Enuff dived in between the two to hit the front inside the 100m. Emerald Lisi fought on gallantly, with Big Union (Harmeet Singh Gill) also starting to lunge on the outside.
While Energy Baby held on to score from Big Union, Emerald Lisi ran another ½ length away in third.
The winning time was 1min 22.53sec for the 1,400m on the long course.
Although da Silva missed out on the ride on Energy Baby at his last start on April 6 when he finished fourth under Shafiq Rizuan, Tan was more than happy to give the Brazilian jockey the ride again.
"I think da Silva suited the horse (Energy Baby)," said the Singaporean conditioner.
"It was a good win. I was quietly confident that he will win today."
Former Kranji jockey Mohd Zaki also made his return to the winner's circle on April 27, when Forever Sixty-One ($22) claimed the RM45,000 Open Novice event (1,200m) in Race 3 for trainer Ananthen Kuppan.
The Belardo three-year-old scored on debut after Zaki guided him to an all-the-way win, beating Thunderous and ex-Kranji rider Marc Lerner into second.
The French jockey had two rides on the first day of his long-term stint in Malaysia, and also picked up a third with One Abracadabra in Race 5.
Zaki, whose last win in Singapore came aboard Atlas on June 9, 2024, decided to make Malaysia his new base and began riding on April 5 in Kuala Lumpur.
Zaki was delighted when the AJ's Stable-owned gelding gave him his first career win in Malaysia.
"I think I rode in Malaysia many years ago when I was still (trainer) (Hideyuki) Takaoka's apprentice jockey. It was just one or two rides back in 2003 or 2004," said the Kelantan-born rider.
"I had to find somewhere to continue my career after Singapore racing is gone and it's nice to have my first winner now." SELANGOR TURF CLUB/TURFONLINE
