Monolita in sight of title with fourth win

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Monolita… looking good for champion pony title. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING: Monolita moved a step closer to the champion pony title when she outpaced a Class One field in Race 5 over 1000M last Sunday.

The speedy four-year-old mare led all the way to take her tally to four wins from five starts and stake  a strong claim for bragging rights as the pony of the year for the 2017 season.

Monolita quickly got into a groove on settling down, showing the way round the home turn and into the final straight with the rest scrambling to improve their positions..

The front-running racer from Beraya  Stable came under pre-ssure as Rain Maker (Roslan Bujang) closed in 200M out, but recovered gamely to carry apprentice Amin Abang to a two-length victory from the battling Rain Maker, paying RM10.

Zorro (Maruf Wahab) dropped in for a distant third.

Leading the pack with four wins, Monolita, trained by Tamizi Putit, is looking good to bring the bacon home if she reproduces her winning form on the final day of the season this coming Sunday.

Her closest rival is Dream Catcher II, winner in Race Four (Class 2 – 1000M).

The W Stable’s four-year-old made a quick break from a good start, never surrendering the lead to cruise home by a distance, paying RM9.

A nose separated the runner-up Wind Chaser (Maruf Wahab) from the third placer Kimanis (Mazlan Bujang).

Dream Catcher II, trained by Edmund Sim, has three wins from six starts. Another win this coming Sunday will give him four wins to draw level with Monolita.

In a tie situation, a count-back based on the minor placings will decide the winner.

After the first weekend (Nov 5), Dream Catcher II has more minor placings – one second and one fourth.

Monolita, on the other hand, has one sixth placing apart from four wins. But if the Beraya Stable’s galloper scores again this coming Sunday for a fifth victory, it’s game over bar the shouting!

Hot favourite newcomer Crescendo (Mazlan Bujang) duly obliged in Race Three (Class 3 – 1000M).

The three-year-old had the race won a long away out, cantering to the finish by a street from Royal Command (Azizi Jasmin) with Volcano (Roslan Bujang) third, three lengths adrift.

The well-backed winner, owned by Sara Stable and trained by Lee Moi Fong, paid RM2.

Geronimo (Roslan Bujang) broke a long losing sequence to take Race Two (Class 4 – 1000M).

The six-year-old held off a late challenge from Peace Pipe (Jasmi Kamar) by two lengths to make an overdue appearance at the winner’s circle.

Dash For Cash (Maruf Wahab) was a distant third.

Geronimo, owned by W Stable and trained by Tamizi Putit, paid RM5. The going was yielding.