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If all goes well, Indonesian horse racing fans may witness the crowning of a new Triple Crown champion at the upcoming Indonesia Derby Series 1 in July 2025.
This historic moment is now within reach following the back-to-back victories of King Argentine in the Indonesia’s Horse Racing (IHR) – Triple Crown Series.
His first win came in the Triple Crown Series 1, 1200 meters, held at the Sultan Agung Racetrack, Bantul, Yogyakarta, on April 20, 2025.
King Argentine secured his second title at the Triple Crown Series 2 in Tegalwaton Racetrack, Semarang Regency, on May 18, 2025.
Fans of equestrian sports have every reason to be excited about the potential arrival of a new champion.
In history, only two horses have ever claimed the Triple Crown title in Indonesia, in 2002 and 2014.
The Triple Crown is the most prestigious honor in Indonesian horse racing, awarded to a horse that wins three major races in the same year.
One of the most legendary champions was Djohar Manik, the last horse to win the title, hailing from Tombo Ati Stable.
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The name Djohar Manik was inspired by a female warrior from the Middle East, whom Munawir equates with Indonesia’s own heroine, Tjut Nyak Dien.
Even as a foal, Djohar Manik stood out.
“You could tell from a young age—he had great structure, and he was a truly beautiful horse,” Munawir reminisced.
Beyond his looks, Djohar Manik showed promise during his very first training sessions—and then won his debut race.
His greatness, Munawir believes, came from his bloodline. His dam was Mini Satria, and his “granddam” was Liberty, both top-tier racehorses in Indonesia.
From that first victory onward, Djohar Manik's dominance only grew.
Over his career, he competed in 41 races and won 37 of them. His wins included not only regular races but also the Triple Crown title in 2014.
The few losses he suffered weren’t due to being outpaced.
Djohar Manik earned the Triple Crown after winning three key races:
“He even set a speed record in the 1600-meter race,” said Munawir.
He also triumphed in events like the Super Sprint (1300m) and Star of Start (2200m)—each three times.
A notable milestone came at the 2016 National Sports Week (PON) in West Java, where he won the 1300-meter race.
“He dominated prestigious races. He was a versatile horse—he could lead from the front or overtake from behind,” Munawir said.
To Munawir, Djohar Manik was a divine gift.
Unlike with other horses, he and his wife never felt nervous before Djohar Manik’s races.
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The horse's dominance was so impressive. Munawir compared Djohar Manik to Red Bull’s F1 champion Max Verstappen, who now dominates the world of motorsport.
Even inexperienced jockeys found success riding him.
“The horse was just that good,” he affirmed.
But the fairytale came to an end in 2024, when Djohar Manik was bred with a stallion named Leonardo and became pregnant.
Around the sixth month of her pregnancy, she was struck by laminitis, a painful hoof condition.
The illness spread throughout her body and ultimately took her life.
“Every year, I host a religious gathering. After she passed away in May, we included her in our ‘Djohar Manik Bersholawat’ as a way to honor her memory,” Munawir said.
Her passing, he believes, was a spiritual return to the Creator—a moment of gratitude for the happiness she brought his family.
said a resolute Ir. H. Munawir, who has now come to terms with the loss of his beloved champion.
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