Kok’s Pacific Atlantic set to catch wave of success in M’sia

It is becoming a pleasant sight and one that is all too familiar.

It is the orange and white silks worn by the rider of a Pacific Stable-owned horse flashing home to victory in races or barrier trials.

But sometimes, their horses do not salute. Like at the last Sungai Besi meeting on Nov 8, Pacific Stable was represented in eight of the 11 races, yet they drew a blank, albeit with three thirds (Pacific Scout, Pacific Bao Bei and Pacific Empire) as their best results.

Still, the Pacific Stable will take what comes along – including wins at the trials.

On the morning of Nov 11, when attention was focused on the morning workouts at Perak Turf Club with the running of the Group 1 Coronation Cup (1,600m) in Ipoh on Nov 16, Pacific Atlantic carried the famous colours to victory in the first of two trials in Kuala Lumpur.

One from Singaporean trainer David Kok’s barn and ridden by apprentice Bahauddin Sharudin, Pacific Atlantic won well.

Having to clear the fifth chute in that field of eight, Pacific Atlantic sought cover behind early leaders Kim Diamond (Khairil Zulkiflee) and Castelo (Andre da Silva) upon settling.

There, the son of Written Tycoon stayed until there was less than a furlong to travel.

Bahauddin had done a good job holding the six-year-old gelding together and when he said “go”, Pacific Atlantic responded.

Taking the bit, he opened up and ran away to put 2½ lengths between himself and the second-placed Kim Diamond.

Pacific Atlantic never looked in full flight until the closing stages, and that was probably why he failed to break the minute mark, clocking 1min 1.15sec over the 1,000m on turf.

It was still a dominant show by the Australian-bred gelding, who will line up among 12 others in the Singapore Pools Trophy (1,200m) in Ipoh on Nov 16 next.

To date, Pacific Atlantic has been a quiet achiever in Kok’s yard. The former Kranji galloper has bagged two wins – both over 1,100m at Kranji and Selangor – four seconds and two thirds in 21 starts.

Last time in a Class 4A race (1,100m) on Sept 28, under apprentice Jerlyn Seow, Pacific Atlantic won it by 1½ lengths in stylish fashion.

Watch for those orange and white silks. The chestnut sprinter has a chance of going back-to-back at the upcoming meeting.

In that same trial, the Richard Lines-trained Kim Diamond lost no marks in second.

The Hellbent three-year-old gelding set a good tempo up front and when challenged by the fast-finishing Super Salute later – who had Benny Woodworth astride – Kim Diamond dug in his heels to hold down that second spot with a neck to spare.

Kim Diamond is coming along nicely. The youngster has finished unplaced in two starts at Sungai Besi, but he might just need a run or two to find his rhythm. His first win should come sooner rather than later.

The second and last trial of the morning saw a close finish between Elite Prince and Mega Valor.

They contested the final furlong with gusto after having been separated from each other in the early part of the proceedings.

But when it mattered, they went hammer and tongs and jockey Shafiq Rizuan had to dig deep to consign Mega Valor (da Silva) to second spot.

The winning margin was a head and the Richard Lim-trained Elite Prince covered the 1,000m in 1min 00.50sec.

Mega Valor has had one run for Kok. Ridden by da Silva in the Open Maiden contest (1,200m), the Bivouac colt went down fighting with the promising Capetian, who own by two lengths.

Unraced in New Zealand, the three-year-old galloper arrived in Malaysia on Valentine’s Day. That debut second on Oct 12 was good enough to suggest an early win for the Mega Captain Stable who, in recent times, have been acquiring some really promising youngsters.

brian@sph.com.sg