Hat-trick-seeking Hasten can prove equal to the task again

Those last two wins – which gave Hasten back-to-back victories – were something to savour.

Trained by Richard Lines, the son of Hellbent first walloped his rivals in the Class 4A contest (1,020m) on Oct 12, galloping away to win by an easy 2¼ lengths under Khaw Choon Kit.

Thirteen days later, on Oct 25, it was 2kg-claimer, Syafifie Zailuddin, who took the reins aboard Hasten in a Class 3 event over the same trip.

The five-year-old galloper proved to be just as swift and, in a galloping show, he carried the Ipoh-based apprentice jockey to a half-length win.

In the process, he also inflicted the first defeat on trainer Simon Dunderdale’s promising four-year-old Fright, who had previously strung together three wins in a row.

Hasten is a runner on the up-and-up.

The six-time winner goes over his pet trip of 1,020m in another Class 3 race on Nov 8 and, to iron out any rough edges, Lines sent Hasten out for a tune-up session on Nov 4.

He would have earned nods of approval when clocking a breezy 42sec for the 600m, which was after he had a fine canter on the track rated good.

After his winning debut in a Restricted Maiden race (1,200m) at Kranji on Aug 20, 2023, Hasten has gone on to win once more over 1,400m for his previous trainer Steven Burridge in 2024.

The Australian-bred began his Malaysian career in January 2025 and has since scored four times for Lines, thrice over 1,020m and once over 1,150m.

On his record, he truly enjoys the sharp sprints and, come Nov 8, he could be the one racing fans at Sungai Besi will be cheering home.

That is provided, Yes Man fails to toss in a challenge.

From Tiang Kim Choi’s yard, Yes Man gets into the action on the back of a smart victory on Sept 6.

That was in a similar Class 3 race (1,020m) and, leading from the get-go, the four-year-old chestnut galloper cruised in under Bernardo Pinheiro to grab the honours with 1½ lengths to spare.

Like Hasten, Yes Man was also out for a spin on the training track. But his work was restricted to a strong round of cantering. 

Five times already, the son of Yes Yes Yes has greeted the judge and, by the looks of things, he could be a danger to Hasten on Nov 8.

Away from that Class 3 contest, keep a watchful eye on Legend Sixty-Three.

He has been entered for the Class 4B sprint (1,150m) and, as a tune-up, trainer Richard Lim sent his galloper out for a training romp over the 600m, which the four-year-old completed in 38sec.

Last time, in a similar race over the same trip on Oct 25, Legend Sixty-Three was a good thing beaten.

Sent off as the raging favourite, the son of Shalaa had no luck under Wong Kam Chong.

Not only was Legend Sixty-Three bumped on two occasions right after the start, he hung in badly when straightening for the run home. And to compound matters, when fashioning a run to the line, he had to shift out and around horses.

To his credit, he finished just 1½ lengths behind the winner, Singha Bay.

That was the sixth time Legend Sixty-Three had to finish second best and it is time he gets his third win on the board.

Legend Sixty-Three goes into the Nov 8 race with a light weight of 54kg on his back. That, when coupled with his good workout, should see him play a big role at the finish.

The Max2 Stakes, a race over the 1,300m, should be an interesting affair.

Several in-form runners will face the starter and looming among them will be Dream King.

From the stables of Mahadi Taib, the one-time winner from 21 starts tossed in a smart workout when running the 600m in 38.8sec after a spot of cantering on the grass track.

A daughter of Sacred Falls, Dream King’s only win was at in Ipoh on Sept 20 when she beat Silver Joy by a neck in a Class 5B race (1,400m).

Last time in a Class 5A contest (1,400m) at Perak Turf Club on Oct 19, the seven-year-old finished fourth. Accord her some respect in the upcoming race.

brian@sph.com.sg