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SARGA.CO – Not every hero takes home a trophy—some leave behind laughter and unforgettable stories. That was the case with Prince Loupan, a young racehorse from King Halim Stable who went viral on social media after his quirky antics at the Merdeka Cup 2025, held on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at the Legok Jawa Racecourse, Pangandaran, West Java.
It wasn’t victory or record-breaking speed that made him famous, but rather his unusual behavior right before the finish line. Leading the pack in the 16th race, Class G (1000 meters), Prince Loupan suddenly swerved toward the center of the track before veering wide to the outer rail—leaving spectators stunned, then roaring with laughter.
That split-second slip handed the perfect chance to rival horse Naga Maja from Jalu Stable, who ultimately clinched the win and the Rp10 million prize. The unexpected twist quickly earned a nickname from netizens: “The Rp10 Million Incident of the Merdeka Cup.”
For fans of the game Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, the incident felt strangely familiar. Many instantly compared Prince Loupan’s antics to the legendary in-game character Gold Ship, a virtual racehorse famed for her blistering speed and equally bizarre mid-race antics.
The real-life Gold Ship was indeed a champion, but her reputation grew even larger thanks to her unpredictable performances—including the infamous “12 billion yen tragedy,” where a sudden loss of focus cost her a fortune in prize money.
Likewise, Prince Loupan—despite showing great potential and impressive speed—ended up the star of the day for his unexpected detour. Netizens quickly dubbed him “Indonesia’s Gold Ship,” and clips of the race have since gone viral across social media platforms.
Behind the humor, Prince Loupan is no ordinary horse. A 2-year-old colt sired by King Lopan out of Sandel, he is owned by Kendro Purnomo, trained by Karlan, and ridden by promising young jockey Ahmad Fauzi. The Merdeka Cup 2025 was one of his early showcases in Class G, 1000 meters.
Though he didn’t take home the trophy, Prince Loupan became the talk of the town—among horse racing enthusiasts, Uma Musume gamers, and the wider sportainment community in Indonesia. He proved that in the world of racing, sometimes character and story leave a deeper mark than victory itself.
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