Strong NZB Flavour in Second Selangor Mile
23 July 2026
The NZB flag flew high in the inaugural Selangor Mile (1600m) last year, and this weekend a strong group of Karaka graduates will attempt to deliver a repeat result in the second running of Malaysia’s richest horse race.
The Selangor Mile is restricted to four-year-olds and will be run on Sunday for a stake of RM1 million (approximately NZ$420,000). Its first winner was Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn), who was bought for just $75,000 from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka..
Sunday’s second edition has attracted a full field of 16 plus four emergencies, including six Karaka graduates and another two runners that were bred in New Zealand.
The six NZB graduates were bought from either the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, Book 1 of Karaka 2023 or the 2022 National Weanling Sale. Their average purchase price was $110,833, with Banker’s Smile (Justify) the most expensive at $340,000 and Storm Titan (NZ) (Ace High) the cheapest at only $15,000.
Below is a rundown of the eight New Zealand-bred and/or sold contenders for the 2026 Selangor Mile.
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| 4 g Super Seth – The Real Beel |
| Breeder: G J Chittick |
| Vendor: Waikato Stud Ltd |
| Purchaser: Ohukia Lodge (Waikato) |
| Sale: Lot 591, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $70,000 |
| Owner: Pacific |
| Pacific Energy has had 13 starts in Malaysia for five wins, two seconds, three thirds and three fourths. He was a last-start winner of the RM200,000 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m) at Selangor on June 26.He was a trial winner in New Zealand before a stint in Victoria, where he had eight starts for two Caulfield Heath victories and three minor placings under the name Appointed. Pacific Energy has drawn gate seven for the Selangor Mile and will be ridden by Jerlyn Seow for trainer David Kok. |
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| 4 g Ardrossan – Vanilla Essence |
| Breeder: Waikato Stud Ltd |
| Owner: Lee Swee Eng |
| Fortune Tree began his career with five starts in Victoria, where he scored a maiden win at Seymour and finished third at Sandown while named Jazzclub. Since relocating to Malaysia, he has had 11 starts for five wins, three seconds, a third and a fourth. He finished second behind Pacific Energy in the 4YO Sprint Championship (1200m) last time out.Fortune Tree has drawn awkwardly for the Selangor Mile, jumping from gate 18. Jose De Souza takes the ride for trainer HY Cheng, who won the inaugural race last year with Lucky Magic. |
| 4 g Justify – Lodi |
| Breeder: Jomara Bloodstock Ltd |
| Vendor: KB Bloodstock |
| Purchaser: Byerley Bloodstock (Western Australia) |
| Sale: Lot 105, 2023 Ready to Run Sale, $340,000 |
| Owner: Banker’s Stable |
| Previously named My Idol, Banker’s Smile was a two-time winner in Australia before his arrival in Malaysia. His career in Malaysia has so far produced three wins and a placing from six starts, and the wins have come from his three most recent appearances.Banker’s Smile will be ridden by apprentice jockey Zulhilmi Marzuki this weekend for trainer Johnny Lim. He has drawn wide in gate 17. |
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| 4 g Ocean Park – Cool Storm |
| Breeder: W K Pomare |
| Vendor: Waikato Stud Ltd |
| Purchaser: Annabel Neasham Racing (New South Wales) |
| Sale: Lot 108, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $140,000 |
| Owner: Banker’s Stable |
| A full-brother to the Group One winner Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park), Banker’s Honor was a winner in Australia under his previous name Storm Park. Since making the move to Malaysia, Banker’s Honor has had five starts for three wins and a second. His most recent start was on June 7 and was over the course and 1600-metre distance of the Selangor Mile, and he won easily by two and a quarter lengths.Banker’s Honor has to overcome the extreme outside gate of 20 in the Selangor Mile. He will be ridden by Joe Kamaruddin for trainer Johnny Lim. |
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| 4 g Turn Me Loose – Te Hana |
| Breeder: S D Aberdein, R J Hannam, M Lawn, J & Mrs J S Millar |
| Owner: Tan Cheong Soon |
| A debut winner at New Plymouth under his previous name Hana Man, Choice Is Mine has remained undefeated since his arrival in Malaysia. He won by three lengths in a 1400-metre race at Selangor on May 17, then scored by a length and a quarter over the same course and distance on June 14.The unbeaten gelding will be ridden by apprentice jockey Fikri Ismail in the Selangor Mile. Choice Is Mine is trained by Lawson Moy and has drawn gate six. |
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| 4 g Too Darn Hot – Podravina |
| Breeder: Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd |
| Vendor: Prima Park |
| Purchaser: Esther Quan Hui Lim (Malaysia) |
| Sale: Lot 184, 2023 Ready to Run Sale, $45,000 |
| Owner: RC |
| Duma’s 19-race career has produced five wins, six seconds, two thirds and two fourths. He already has big-race success to his name in the RM150,000 Ready to Run Graduate Cup (1400m) at Selangor last year.Frank Maynard trains Duma, who will be ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro and will jump from gate one. |
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| 4 g Ace High – Mostly |
| Breeder: Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd |
| Vendor: Rich Hill Stud |
| Purchaser: Pertab Bloodstock (Waikato) |
| Sale: Lot 70, 2022 National Weanling Sale, $15,000 |
| Owner: Khor Chin Seng |
| A trial winner in New Zealand, Storm Titan arrived in Malaysia early last year and has racked up four wins, two seconds and a third from 10 starts so far. While three of his wins have come over distances ranging from 1020 to 1150 metres, he has also won over 1400 metres and finished second over 1500 metres.Simon Kok Wei Hoong will take the ride on Storm Titan in the Selangor Mile, in which the HY Cheng-trained runner has drawn gate eight. |
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| 4 g Telperion – China Choice |
| Breeder: G Harvey |
| Vendor: Westbury Stud |
| Purchaser: Shri Kanth (Malaysia) |
| Sale: Lot 370, 2023 Ready to Run Sale, $55,000 |
| Owner: RC |
| The Frank Maynard-trained Trees Of Valinor has had 20 starts for five wins, five seconds, a third and a fourth. He is proven over the 1600-metre distance of this race, with his two previous attempts producing a win and a placing.Trees Of Valinor has drawn gate three for the Selangor Mile, in which he will be ridden by SU Lim. |
The Selangor Mile will be run as Race 9 on Sunday, with a scheduled start time of 4.20pm local time (8.20pm NZT).