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Cheval Blanc bounced back to his brilliant best form when he came with a sustained effort in the final 200m to snatch victory in the RM250,000 Piala Emas Sultan Selangor over 2000m at Sungei Besi today.
The race ran into the hands of the Irish gelding by Red Jazz when Good Fight set a scorching pace in the yielding going and the rest of the field trailed like a mailtrain with some 40 lengths covering the field at the midway mark.
Good Fight was six lengths clear of Macau import Family Delight when the field turned out of the back straight. Berry Bliss bowled along nice in third place, another eight lengths away, followed by the Coronation Cup winner Mega Gems and Cheval Blanc.
The favourite Dream Alliance, making his first Malaysian start after coming over from Singapore, and the much fancied Golden Pegasus were in midfield.
Good Fight was still nicely clear making the turn into the straight and at the 400m, had a length to spare from Berry Bliss who was closing in swiftly on the outside of Family Delight. Cheval Blanc was looking for a run just behind the pair.
Berry Bliss races up to Good Fight approaching the 200m and the hit the front shortly after. Family Delight was beaten. Golden Pegasus was making up good grounds on the rails and Cheval Blanc was asked for an effort on the outside.
Cheval Blanc winning the Dec 01 2024 Selangor Meeting Race 8 (1096) and Golden Pegasus charged at the leader in the final 50m and it was Cheval Blanc who went best to snatch victory by half a length. Berry Bliss held on for second, just a head in front of Golden Pegasus.
The nine-year-old's never-say-die spirit has now landed him three Group 1 wins in less than a year and five victories in 13 starts since coming under the care of trainer Frank Maynard.
"Fantastic," said Maynard. "It's a big thrill."
"He is a versatile, honest horse who never gives up.
"We lost him for a couple of runs (after his last win) and I don't know why. But coming back to win like that it's just a great effort. He was never going to win at the 200m (today) but just kept coming.
"I would love to have him as a four-year-old, we would have some fun then," quipped Maynard.
"We wouldn't get carried away (with the win today) and see how he pulls up. I will then talk to the connections and pick up a race for him next.
When Cheval Blanc first came to Maynard this time last year, the Irish gelding scored a hattrick, culminating with his win in the Penang Gold Cup (2000m) in December last year.
Cheval Blanc then surprised a few when be beat the sprinters at their game in the Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) last April.
"He's been good to us. Beautiful animal."
Cheval Blanc, who won a race and finished on the podium in four black-type races in Ireland, managed two wins in Class 4 in Singapore but has matured like fine wine since coming to Malaysia.
"They went too fast (early) so I kept my patience and let him settled nicely," said jockey Lim Shung Uai.
"I started to move up from the 600m and in the straight, my horse gave me plenty, slowly and surely gaining grounds on the leader."
It was Maynard's second success in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor after Sacred Empire in 2019.
Maynard and Lim had teamed up to win the Penang Sprint Trophy (1400m) with Circuit Mission last July.
