NZB graduate draws pole position for Selangor Mile

Duma, a New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate by Too Darn Hot, has drawn the inside gate for the RM1 million (AU$350,000) Selangor Mile in Malaysia on Sunday.

Trained by expatriate Australian Frank Maynard, Duma has won five of is 19 starts in Kuala Lumpur since being purchased at the 2023 NZB two-year-old sale for $45,000 from the Prima Park draft.

Leading Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro, who rides in Malaysia while racing in the United Arab Emirates is out-of-season, has the mount on Duma while prominent New Zealand trainer Simon Dunderdale has called on the services of Jett Stanley to ride one of his three runners in Malaysia’s richest race.

Stanley will fly in to ride on-pacer Navarre, who has drawn barrier 11 in the field of 16 plus four emergencies, while fellow Victorian jockey Liam Riordan partners stablemate Anjou Crown (15).

CC Wong will ride Aquitaine (5) for Dunderdale while Joe Kamaruddin, who rode 167 winners in New Zealand before returning to his home country last year, faces a tough task on Banker’s Honor who drew the outside barrier of 20.

The son of Ocean Park is considered the leading hope for trainer Johnny Lim who qualified four horses for the Selangor Mile.

Choice Is Mine, a gelding by Turn Me Loose who was sold to Hong Kong but never raced after winning a New Zealand maiden in February last year prior to making his way to Malaysia, will attempt to stretch his unbeaten record to four after drawing barrier six for trainer Lawson Moy.