Trainer Cheng’s stable star posts sub-minute win at trials unextended

The unstoppable Lucky Magic  is up there and, by the looks of things, has no intention of budging.

Since winning an Open Maiden contest over the 1,200m at Sungai Besi on Aug 11, 2024, there has been no let-up.

In 12 more starts, the Winson Cheng Han Yong-trained galloper has chalked up seven more wins, including two Group 1s, the Perak Derby (2,000m) on March 2 and Penang Gold Cup (2,000m) on Dec 29, 2024, not to mention the inaugural RM1 million (S$304,000) Selangor Mile (1,600m) at his last start on July 20.

The New Zealand-bred five-year-old had to, however, win the race in the stewards' room, surviving a protest from runner-up Good Star's trainer Mahadi Taib.

Lucky Magic has also etched his name in Malaysian racing history as the last horse to win a race in Penang at its farewell meeting on May 31.

Except for a slight blip when he took fourth spot in a Supreme B race on April 12. Lucky Magic has not finished further than second in his Malaysian career.

In readiness for more glory, he turned in an inspiring performance at the trials held on the morning of Aug 19.

Under regular partner Shafiq Rizuan, who has ridden him to five of his wins, Lucky Magic – having to clear the outermost gate – was always hard held while caught three wide mid-pack.

Under his own steam, the son of Mendelssohn strode up to the leaders in the straight before crossing the line first from newcomer Rumeur (Aify Yahaya) by a short head in a smart time of 59.62sec for the 1,000m.

The imposing performance is a strong pointer that Lucky Magic will be very hard to beat at his next start.

Also showing speed was Castelo  who took the day's second trial in a time of 1min 0.16sec.

Prepared by Ananthen Kuppan, Castelo (Aify) produced a late run in the hit-out and, racing wide for clear running room, he came from third at the top of the straight to beat Defoe by one length.

Castelo was at the trials by order of the club's veterinary team after he returned with respiratory distress at his last start on Aug 2. The seven-year-old finished a distant last to Pacific Star in a mile race.

A two-time winner by Tivaci, Castelo is now freed for racing and will see action in Race 9 – the Class 4 (B) event to be run over the mile at Kuala Lumpur on Aug 24.

However, second-placed Defoe will have to wait. He failed his test as he bled and again showed signs of respiratory distress after his latest trial.

The two easiest winners of the day were Charity Gold and Pacific Hunter.

Running in trial No. 6, which was held on the sand track, Charity Gold  (Andre da Silva), also trained by Cheng, won his hit-out by seven and a half lengths in a time of 1min 2.53sec.

The Churchill six-year-old tasted victory only once from seven race starts, in a Class 5 (B) sprint over the Selangor 1,275m course on May 3.

His subsequent two races can be described as decent efforts.

He took third behind Bull Fight on that auspicious final day of racing at Penang on May 31 and, when sent off as third pick at his last start on June 15, he came home fifth to Lightning Gal.

Da Silva, the runaway Malaysian jockeys' premiership leader on 57 winners, must see something good in Charity Gold.

He has been associated with the gelding from day one when – on Nov 5, 2024 – he rode him into second spot in a trial at Sungai Besi.

Since then, he has partnered him to two wins in his two trials.

Look out for this partnership when Cheng next sends his charge to the races.

Earlier, in the fifth trial, also run on the sand, Pacific Hunter gave apprentice Bahauddin Sharudin an armchair ride when he carried him home to a seven-length romp.

A one-time winner when he was trained by Michael Clements in Singapore at the second of his five starts at Kranji, the Hellbent six-year-old is still a Malaysian maiden in eight starts.

But on his current flying form, that status may not stay as such for very long.