G1 PERAK DERBY PREVIEW FOR THIS SUNDAY

The G1 Meru Valley Resort Perak Derby (2000m) will headline the ten race card at Perak Turf Club on Sunday. In the ten horse lineup, the RM 200,000 feature contains five previous group one winners with four of those previously scoring over 2000m in their careers.

SMART STAR (3) and BIG HEARTED (4), winners of the Singapore Gold Cup in 2024 and 2020 respectively will be looking to open their winning accounts in Malaysia while LUCKY MAGIC (5) took out the Penang Gold Cup in December.

With five wins from nine Malaysian starts, LUCKY MAGIC (5) currently has the form on the board as he aims for the hat trick and his most recent performance suggests he has been trained to the minute. Easily accounting for a Class 3 line up over the mile on January 31, the 4yo is at his peak and he should prove hard to beat on his first visit to Ipoh.

The run of SMART STAR (3) when resuming was quite encouraging considering he may have been short of a run plus missing the start slightly hindered his chances also. Finishing 3.75L from the winner in the 1600m Listed CNY Prosperity Trophy, the 6yo will strip fitter and looms as a major player. The two time winner over 2000m is a dour stayer and has the class to produce another group win for trainer David Kok.

The form of GOOD FIGHT (1) tapered off following his back to back victories in the 2023 G1 Coronation Cup and Perak Charity Cup but the gelding has slowly recaptured that vein of form which includes a win over 1400m in January. The 7yo is on the quick backup following his unplaced effort over 1200m last Sunday in KL but his run prior keeps him under notice when finishing a neck 2nd in the CNY Prosperity Trophy after leading. The gelding is proven over the distance finishing runner up to LUCKY MAGIC (5) in the Penang Gold Cup last year and the versatile galloper could double his group tally without surprising.

Despite not winning for just over twelve months, BIG HEARTED (4) has his chance to break through locally. The 8yo does possess a quick burst of acceleration as displayed in three local runs so far and could figure in the finish if the speed is genuine throughout.

PACIFIC BAO BEI (10) has never competed at this level but the Irish bred performer looks a longshot chance in the race. He is proven over the 2000m but gives a fair amount of weight to the higher rated gallopers and is coming off Class 4 contests. The stable mate of SMART STAR (3) is lowly rated (55 pts) but will handle the staying trip better than some of his rivals.

The racing career of FOUNTAIN OF FAME (8) has been rejuvenated as the 8yo has been flying for the T Asogan camp recently posting four successive wins, including his last two at Class 4 level. The gelding also enters Sunday’s feature from a low rating and despite the class rise and first run at the trip, he may be one at long odds for the trifecta.

SO WE FIGHT (9) also races over 2000m for the first time and may be a query against the opposition. At four years of age, he will be the equal youngest runner in the Derby field and is on the seven day back up following his unplaced effort over 1500m in KL.

AHTIMS KLIS (6) is a handy mare who seems to struggle in group company and was safely held when placed 3rd in a weaker Cosmo C race here three weeks ago. The mare has been unsuccessful at two previous attempts over 2000m also.

SHANGHAI KNIGHTS (2) reached his peak form during the 2020 and 2021 racing seasons where he won eight races in a row, most of those in the top grades. However, the 9yo has struggled to recapture those heights since and was safely held when beating one home in the 1200m Enrich Stakes A race here last week.

PERAK DERBY SELECTIONS: (5) LUCKY MAGIC   (3) SMART STAR   (1) GOOD FIGHT   (4) BIG HEARTED