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SARGA.CO—In the Indonesian horse racing field, only a few names live on as legends. A decade after the glory days of Djohar Manik, a new contender emerges: King Argentin, hailed as the next heir to the champion's throne.
The year 2014 marked Djohar Manik’s dominance on the horse racing national stage. Bred from stallion Tuscaloosa and mare Mini Satria, this thoroughbred claimed the prestigious Triple Crown title. To this day, only two horses in Indonesia’s history have ever achieved this feat, and Djohar Manik is one of them.
The Triple Crown series consisted of three elite races: Piala Tiga Mahkota Series I in March 2014 (1,200 meters), Series II in May 2014 (1,600 meters), and Series III in July 2014 (2,000 meters), where Djohar set a record for fastest finish. These victories earned him a clean sweep of the coveted Triple Crown.
But Djohar Manik’s brilliance didn’t stop there. He went on to win multiple titles in top-tier events, including three championships in the Super Sprint class (1,300 meters) and a win in the Star of Stars class (2,200 meters), both known for testing a horse’s raw speed and endurance.
His outstanding performance continued at the 2016 Pekan Olahraga Nasional (PON) in Pangandaran, West Java, where he claimed victory in the A Sprint class. That achievement further solidified his reputation as one of Indonesia’s most consistent and capable racehorses.
A decade after Djohar Manik’s golden era, a new star is rising in Indonesian horse racing: King Argentin. Born in 2021, this promising thoroughbred made a splash in 2023 with a strong debut. Despite his young age, he quickly earned a reputation as a serious contender on the racetrack.
He first made headlines by winning the Piala Tiga Mahkota Seri I and Pertiwi Cup 2024 in the 2-Year-Old Debut A/B Class (800 meters), showcasing his natural sprinting ability. But his talent wasn’t confined to short distances.
Competing on a tougher playing field, King Argentin proved his mettle by finishing runner-up in the Kejuaraan Nasional Pacuan Kuda Seri 01 Indonesia Derby 2024 (1,400 meters), and again taking second place in the prestigious Le Minerale Piala Ketua Umum PP Pordasi 2024–2028 for the 3-Year-Old Derby Division I Class (1,600 meters). These results proved he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder.
The year 2025 became the pinnacle of King Argentin’s rise. He clinched the A.E. Kawilarang Memorial Cup (1,600 meters), then extended his winning streak in the Triple Crown Series I (1,200 meters) and Series II (1,600 meters), both with top jockey Jemmy Runtu in the saddle.
In the preliminary round of Indonesia’s Horse Racing: Indonesia Derby 2025 (2,000 meters), King Argentin once again proved his class by finishing first ahead of Padagi NSL and Romantic Spartan.
Only one race remains. Should King Argentin cross the finish line first in the final of Indonesia’s Horse Racing (IHR): Indonesia Derby 2025, the Triple Crown title will officially be his.
In an exclusive session, SARGA.CO interviewed several horse trainers to get their take on how King Argentin compares to the legendary Djohar Manik on Indonesian tracks.
Ndena Ngaba, a horse trainer at Jatinom Indah Stable, believes the two belong to different leagues. He referred to Djohar Manik as a true legend.
“Djohar Manik always came out on top, whether in nationals or regular races,” Ndena explained.
In terms of leading from the front, Tantan Firmansyah, the horse trainer of Maju Jaya Stable, also gave the edge to Djohar Manik over King Argentin.
“Djohar was dominant even from the beginner classes. King Argentin only started making waves recently. Djohar also led more often than Argentin,” he said.
Tantan added that Princess Gavi, another horse from King Halim Stable, still has an edge over King Argentin. However, Argentin’s recent progress has impressed him.
“But Argentin is getting there, he’s improving,” he continued.
Tantan’s comments came off the back of King Argentin’s recent wins in the 2025 Triple Crown Series I and II. Even in the qualifying round of the Indonesia Derby in 3-Year-Old Derby Heat I (2,000 meters), he stayed on top.
A different perspective came from Slamet, who believes King Argentin matches Djohar Manik in quality. He even claimed that compared to today’s horses, the two still dominate.
“Both of them are superior to the current generation of racehorses,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Ardhi Wijaya of BHM Stable highlighted the genetic factor. Both Djohar Manik and King Argentin carry champion bloodlines, he said. Unsurprisingly, Djohar is remembered as a legend, and now King Argentin is being touted as the next Triple Crown holder, a title considered the highest achievement in horse racing.
“This horse is on track to become part of history, another King Halim-bred horse destined to be a legend in Indonesian horse racing,” he concluded.
On the racetrack, history and the future often gallop side by side. For many trainers, Djohar Manik remains the benchmark of greatness, his dominance hard to rival.
But King Argentin is quietly stealing the spotlight. He is climbing podium after podium, proving that his champion bloodline is more than just pedigree on paper.
With his steady rise and growing consistency, it’s not far-fetched to imagine him one day taking his place among the legends of Indonesian horse racing.
The Triple Crown is more than just a title; it’s a trial of mental fortitude, physical strength, and racing strategy. Many horses can win a single race, but only the toughest can sweep all three in one clean run.
Now, with two crucial wins under his belt in Indonesia’s Horse Racing: Triple Crown Series, King Argentin stands just one step away from making history and carrying on the legacy of Djohar Manik on Indonesia’s most prestigious tracks.
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