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SARGA.CO – In the RM1 million Selangor Mile at Sungai Besi on 26 July, Aquitaine produced the biggest surprise of the Malaysian horse racing season by claiming the win for his Penang-born jockey, Wong Chin Chuen (C.C. Wong).

The triumph marked an emotional comeback for the multi-time Singapore G1-winning rider at Kranji, who just returned to Malaysia earlier this month after a successful stint in South Korea that spanned 106 victories.

"I spent two years in Korea and it was a new and great experience," Wong said. 

"But looking back on my riding career in Malaysia, I realised I'd never spent a full season in my own country before, and there are still many major races that I haven't won. That's why I decided to come back to ride and hopefully, I can win more major races in Malaysia, as well as the championship."
 

Drawn in gate four, Aquitaine settled well mid-pack while stablemate Navarre dictated the pace of the 1,600-metre race in the 16-horse field.

As the runners turned for home, Aquitaine found a clear path at the 400-metre mark and gathered momentum. After overtaking the tiring Navarre inside the final 200 metres, he had to withstand a late challenge from Fortune Tree, the G1 Tunku Gold Cup winner, by a head at the finish with stablemate Anjou Crown another half-length away in third.

Sent off at long odds after failing to place in his previous start, Aquitaine returned RM267 for a winning ticket, rewarding only the bravest of punters.

"I worked him during the week and he worked well," Wong said. "I expected him to run a good race but didn't quite expect him to win. At the post I thought I finished second. Winning was a bonus."

Trainer Simon Dunderdale revealed that Aquitaine had always been aimed at the Selangor Mile after being sourced through the Inglis Digital online sales, as the son of Deep Field.

Previously known as Wa Wa Wa, the gelding had been trained by Chris Waller in Australia before being purchased alongside stablemates Anjou Crown (formerly Bendrodt) and Eruption.

"We bought all three horses in the Inglis Digital online sales last year and the goal was for them to run in the Selangor Mile," Dunderdale said. “He was probably my third selection, but he'd done nothing wrong and had the better draw.”

Originally, Mauritian-based jockey Ryan Curatolo had been booked to ride Aquitaine before emergency appendicitis surgery forced him to withdraw.

"I heard CC was coming back, so I rang him up and I'm glad he was available," Dunderdale added. "It's worked out perfectly for us."

The win also highlighted the changing landscape of Malaysian racing, since owners have increasingly had to turn to Australian and New Zealand online sales to replenish the local horse population in the face of Singapore racing closing in October 2024. As such, Aquitaine becomes another success story from that strategy.

Dunderdale now plans to aim both Aquitaine and Anjou Crown at the G1 Selangor Gold Cup over the same 1,600-metre distance in September.

"Aquitaine has earned his chance," said the New Zealand-born trainer. “Antipodean is also back to his best and he'll head there as well.”

The supporting feature races also produced notable performances. Trainer H.Y. Cheng saddled the runner-up Fortune Tree, but quickly found consolation when the unbeaten Fortune Rising stretched his Malaysian record to four wins from four starts in the Trinity Selangor Silver over 1,300 metres under Jose de Souza.

At Ipoh a day earlier, veteran galloper Joey claimed the inaugural Hoof Tap Trophy, while trainer Kevin Coetzee enjoyed a four-win afternoon. Apprentice Muhammad Hariz also celebrated his maiden race victory aboard Double Draw, breaking through at his 29th ride after making his debut in March.

For Malaysian horse racing, however, the weekend most belonged to Aquitaine and C.C. Wong’s homecoming.