Rambo to defy double promotion.
KUCHING: Rambo, a first-up runaway winner last week, looks ready to take no prisoners as he bids to draw first blood in top company at the Mile 8 Penrissen course here this morning.
The improving three-year-old has copped a double promotion to Class One for winning with ridiculous ease in Class Three on the First Day where he was still able to beat the Class One winning time by 2.6 seconds (1:28.6 vs 1:31.2) in what looked like nothing more than a morning workout.
Rambo has the class to “bazooka” his seven rivals in Race 5 (Class 1 – 1000M) today. With the steady hands of top rider Roslan Bujang and a good marble (4), the Beraya Stable’s roan can defy double promotion and the 66kg on his back to complete the penultimate meeting with a double.
Rambo’s task is made lighter with two significant course scratchings – stablemates Bukan Lawan Nya and Nothing To Lose. With the duo out of the way, he is ready to rambo.
The likely challenge should come from last week’s winner Ini Kali (Jasmi Kamar) and Empila Boy (Othman Putit).
Kimanis (Roslan Bujang) is the pick in Race Four (Class 2 – 1000M).
The two-year-old filly who finished a long second to Rambo in Class Three last week but was, in turn, a street ahead of the third pony, Ratu Kenyalang, has drawn attention to her potential and duly earned a promotion to Class 2.
On that score, the youngster should hold her own against a higher class today.
The main danger should come from Geronimo (Othman Putit) and Ratu Kenyalang (Jasmi Kamar).
Three newcomers and stablemates look set to dominate Race Three (Class 3 – 1000M).
Of the trio, only Ratu Mabahai (Othman Putit) has raced here before, finishing fifth in her first outing last week but in much stronger company, featuring the likes of Rambo, Kimanis and Ratu Kenyalang who all have gone up class.
The other two, Gadis Keningau (Roslan Bujang) and Hitam Manis (Jasmi Kamar), will be making their debut today.
Since all the three runners are from the same stable, picking the winner is very much a guessing game. But if jockeyship is any indication, then bank on high-riding Roslan Bujang on Gadis Keningau.
The leading jockey should give punters their money’s worth as he eyes a maiden win for the three-year-old.
The next rider to watch in the same race is Jasmi Kamar who should get the best out of his two-year-old mount, Hitam Manis. Othman Putit rounds up the battle of jockeyship astride Ratu Bahahai.
As the saying goes, anything can happen in racing but where the outcome of a race hinges on jockeyship, current riding form and first-choice mounts, Roslan Bujang should have an edge over the other two riders.