SHIRVO CAN PUT UP A SUPREME CHALLENGE

Trained by Richard Lim, Faithful Leader also works well on the training track in KL

- Brian Miller

With Antipodean lining up in the highlight event at Sungai Besi on Nov 2, all eyes could be on the highest-rated galloper at 112 points.

The Simon Dunderdale-trained five-year-old is a favourite with racegoers. A winner of the 2024 Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m), the son of Derryn prevailed by a neck in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale Championship (1,400m) at his last start on Oct 12.

He will be all the rage in the Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup (1,400m) in Kuala Lumpur, but hold your horses as there are a few others in the 12-horse field who have the ability to spoil his party.

Right up there and heading the challengers is Shirvo.

Bright and early on the morning of Oct 28, Shirvo was out on the training track where, after a round of cantering, he turned on the afterburners to run the 600m in 39.8sec.

It was a workout which would have pleased Malaysian trainer Wayne Lim.

The son of Not A Single Doubt already has two wins and four seconds from 12 starts.