RUMEUR HAS IT SIVA'S 5YO GALLOPER IS ON THE UP

Stop The Water also impresses with his trial win on soggy track

- Brian Miller

They went for him like they knew he was going to run well on debut.

That was in a Class 4A race (1,275m) at Sungai Besi on Sept 6, and it did not bother his rivals that Rumeur was having his first run and that apprentice Azizi Azhari was doing the steering.

But the Siva Kumar-trained $14 favourite failed to finish in the money on his Malaysian debut.

The five-year-old son of Mongolian Khan had to be content with a fourth behind the Nick Selvan-trained Elliot Ness.

Fans can put it down to Rumeur having an off day, but they should keep the faith in the New Zealand-bred.

Rumeur has got potential and, like it was on Aug 19 when he tossed in a good trial when a short head-second to three-time Group 1 winner Lucky Magic, Rumeur did it again.

On the morning of Sept 17, he went one better and won his trial by a convincing 21/4 lengths. On a wet track at Sungai Besi, he returned a time of Imin 00.91sec.

Ridden by Mohd Zaki, trainer Lim Shung You's Sakura was quick into stride and led the field into the first turn.

Rumeur, under a tight rein from Aify Yahaya, held on to second and never allowed the free-flowing leader to get too far away.