Elite Prince Holds Court Again

Lim-trained youngster posts second career win in 3YO Sprint Championship in KL

- Sharon Zhang

Relative newcomer Elite Prince overcame his outside barrier in the RM200,000 (S$61,000) 3-Year-Old Sprint Championship (1,200m) to score back-to-back wins at Sungai Besi on June 1.

Trained by Singaporean Richard Lim, the son of Bon Hoffa faced 12 other runners in the highlight race in Kuala Lumpur, including several last-start winners like Duma, Yes Man, Defeater, Release The Spirit and Rocky Bhai.

Elite Prince was no pushover among his peers, though.

After an unplaced run on debut on April 20, the Australian-bred opened his account with a handy win in a Restricted Maiden race (1,200m) at his second and last start on May 18, when he beat Singha Bay by 1¾ lengths.

Although he won from gate 11 then, Lim was still worried the wide barrier 9 this time could work against his positive tactics, but the promising Elite Prince dispelled his concerns shortly after the start.

The three-year-old chestnut galloper showed plenty of speed under Shafiq Rizuan to cut across and lead on the rails from Sakura (Mohd Zaki) and Yes Man (Oscar Chavez) in the back straight.

Turning for home, Elite Prince ($30) quickly put a two-length margin between him and Yes Man.

Duma (Andre da Silva), who had been buried in fifth on the rails, switched to the outside at the 400m to launch his challenge.