Trigger Pegasus (NZ) Captures Charity Cup

The strong influence of New Zealand thoroughbreds and Karaka graduates in Malaysian racing was once again on display in Perak Turf Club’s RM100,000 Charity Cup (1400m) on Sunday, won in blistering come-from-behind style by Trigger Pegasus (NZ) (Deep Field).

Trigger Pegasus was bred by Blandford Lodge’s Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax in partnership with Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock Ltd. Offered by Blandford Lodge in Book 1 of Karaka 2020, he was a $70,000 purchase by David Ellis and Fortuna Racing. From a 22-start career, Trigger Pegasus has now had five wins and six placings and banked the equivalent of more than NZ$250,000.

The Charity Cup was the first black-type success for Trigger Pegasus, who settled a long way back in a strung-out field and had only one horse behind him coming around the home turn. But apprentice jockey A Azizi got him into clear air down the outside of the straight and let him rip, and Trigger Pegasus produced a barnstorming finish to flash past Quicken Away (Mint Lane) and score a brilliant win.

The six-year-old is trained by Nick Selvan for owner Zarinah Binti Abdul Hamid.

Trigger Pegasus has been well-travelled, having started his career with a third and two fourths from three appearances in New Zealand in October and November of 2021. He then travelled to Singapore, where he won four times from 17 appearances and finished fifth in the EW Barker Trophy (1400m) and sixth in the Silver Bowl (1400m).

Sunday’s Charity Cup was the second start in Malaysia for Trigger Pegasus. He had finished fourth in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1250m) at Selangor on August 11.