Banker’s Kingdom strengthened his claims for a place in next month’s RM1 million Selangor Mile with a commanding performance in the Supreme B event over 1400m at Sungai Besi on Tuesday. The Brazen Beau gelding delivered another impressive display, suggesting that he may have found the form needed for the major 1600m assignment on July 26.
Selangor Mile Race Preview
The five-year-old Australian-bred runner appears to have reached his peak at the right stage, with only five weeks remaining before the prestigious mile contest.
Banker’s Kingdom is now being closely watched as a rising name in the upcoming Selangor Mile, following a series of improving performances on the local circuit.
The gelding was a late developer during his Australian campaign, making nine appearances at the age of three and winning two of his final three starts before being offered for sale through an online auction.
His early days after arriving locally were modest, with two unplaced efforts before he produced a major turnaround by claiming victory in a Class 4 event at his third local start.
After finishing third behind Banker’s Beautiful, he travelled to Ipoh for a 1600m Cosmo C event and returned with a strong win, defeating Winning Stride, who had earlier finished runner-up in the Perak Derby.
Back at Sungai Besi, Banker’s Kingdom continued to show promise with a fourth and a second-place finish before stepping up against a stronger set-weight field.
In the Supreme B event, ridden for the first time by Brazilian jockey Bernado Pinheiro, Banker’s Kingdom broke well and settled near the pace. When Mega Gems moved forward around the 1000m mark, Pinheiro allowed his mount to relax behind the leader rather than forcing the issue.
The move proved decisive. Banker’s Kingdom moved alongside Mega Gems entering the straight and quickly established control after the 400m mark. Thunderous attempted to challenge in the closing stages, but Banker’s Kingdom had too much strength and pulled away to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
“I was happy to be on board this horse. He showed that he is a smart horse with a bright future,” Pinheiro said after the race.
“He jumped well and had good speed early. When another horse went forward, it was better to let him settle and save his energy. I had worked with him during the week and knew he was in good shape.”
“When I asked him for an effort in the straight, he responded well and finished strongly.”
The victory was also the third success of the day for Pinheiro, completing a memorable treble. He had earlier partnered Maze to victory in the Class 5A 1275m sprint on the No. 2 track before guiding Zed Or Alive to a maiden success in the Class 5A 1800m event after 16 previous starts in the country.
Banker’s Kingdom’s latest win has added further excitement around the upcoming Selangor Mile, where the improving galloper will look to measure himself against some of the region’s strongest performers.
The latest victory has further raised expectations around Banker’s Kingdom’s next assignment, with the gelding showing the consistency and determination required for a major challenge. His progress through the Malaysian racing scene has been steady, and the way he handled stronger opposition at Sungai Besi suggests he could play an important role when the country’s top middle-distance performers line up for the upcoming feature event.
With his confidence growing after each appearance, Banker’s Kingdom now appears ready for another step forward. The coming weeks will provide an opportunity to see whether the Brazen Beau galloper can maintain his upward momentum and deliver another memorable performance on the big stage.
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