3 minute read
Teller made up for his big let-down in the Singapore Derby last year to capture the biggest prize of the Malaysian racing calendar, the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor, at Sungei Besi here today.
The 2000m race returned to the calendar this season after being called off in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic which disrupted racing for several months each year.
Apprentice Nuqman Faris Rozi, who is in superb form at the moment, brought the Argentinean gelding home in the nick of time to snatch victory from Golden King who had hit the front 200m out.
Nuqman settled Teller well back in the early running and gradually closed in on the leaders making the turn into the home straight.
At the 400m, the six-yeat-old was within striking distance of the pacemaker Eye Guy. But Nuqman had to ease him out behind a line of horses to get a run.
Teller eventually got clear and went after Golden King. Just then Skydance Eclips also loomed into the picture. But Teller produced the best finish to win by 3/4 length.
Yesterday, Nuqman booted home three winners — the second time in his career — including winning the Starprint Public Company Limited Thailand Trophy.
He went one better today, winning on Super Happy in the Melbourne Racing Club Trophy and Violet in the Betmakers Cup earlier in the day and wound up the meeting scoring on Ch Fortune .
"My instruction was to be handy but they went quite fast in front so I had to settle him well back early," said Nuqman of his ride on Teller.
"In the straight, I could see that the horses in front are struggling but mine still has a lot in the tank. I rode hands and heels to balance the horse and he responded well. I used my whip only in the final 200m."
"Teller had a good lead-up race over 1775m last week," said winning trainer Lim Shung You. "He is a proven stayer in Argentina and had a very handy 55kg in the weights today."
Nuqman's ride on Teller also came in for high praise from the trainer. "A superb ride by an up-and-coming rider who could be champion jockey one day."
