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That day, Naga Sembilan appeared as the star of the IHR 59th PORDASI National Horse Racing Championship Series II 2025. The Class A Star of Stars – 2,200 Meter was the main class, contested by five horses: Queen Divona, Kashmir Pararaja, Triple SS, Prince Patriot, and Naga Sembilan himself.

As the holder of the 2025 Star of Stars title, not many people know the origin of the number nine in the name of the horse formerly known as Leonidas.
 

Bagus explained that the number nine was taken from the number of “whorls” (user-useran) owned by his favorite horse.

“Being called Naga Sembilan also has its basis. Some people believe in ‘user-useran’,” he said.

For your information, user-useran, or horse hair whorls, are natural swirl patterns in a horse’s hair that are usually visible on the forehead, neck, or other parts of the body. This pattern appears from the direction of hair growth that rotates to form a circle, similar to a human hair whorl.

“He comes from quite a high lineage, and currently under the banner of Red Stone, we maintain him well,” he said.

Realizing that Red Stone is a small-scale stable, Bagus said he constantly learns from large stable owners in terms of caring for and maintaining racehorses. From the results of his consultations with trainer and horse racing legend Edwin Basuki, he also learned that Naga Sembilan met the criteria of a superior racehorse.

Like humans, Bagus revealed that Naga Sembilan seemed to know when he was about to compete in a race. His lazy character would instantly change, and he would become enthusiastic about running.

“Horses actually understand when it’s training time and when it’s competition time. In a race, it’s different, the atmosphere is different, and he understands it. When he’s been dressed up neatly, he knows that it’s race time, that he’s about to compete. He behaves differently when he enters the track,” Bagus explained.

With the 2025 Star of Stars title already in hand, Bagus only hopes that Naga Sembilan will always be given the best health so that his career in national horse racing can last for a long time.

“If Saud’s horse won Star of Stars five times, who knows, Naga Sembilan might follow. So we just ask for prayers; the most important thing is that he stays healthy. As for dreams related to the horse…”