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Pasir Pinji, who rose from humble Class 5 to win the Selangor Gold Cup last September, is back in the winner’s circle after three creditable runs.

The New Zealand gelding could not see out the distance when fifth to GOLDEN PAYOUT in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m) last November but bounced back with placings over 1600m and 1500m in the past few weeks.

Despite drawn widest in a field of 10, PASIR PINJI started favourite in the Metro A set-weight event over 1600m at Sungai Besi here today.

And the son of Nadeem had to do it the hard way. Ridden by apprentice Tuan Ammar, he was amongst the rear bunch of horses early. Though he moved forward and settled in midfield, he was caught three-wide all the way till the home straight.

The field was stretched across the track at the 400m with just four lengths separating the first and last horse. SAN ANDREAS took the lead at the 200m but PASIR PINJI wore him down in the run home to win by half a length.

BLEU MARINE flashed home between horses to pip SAN ANDREAS for second.

"I know this horse (PASIR PINJI) well," said Ammar who has won three times previous on the gelding.

"My instructions were to try to get nearer the fence and sit outside of one runner for cover. But the field was well bunched up and I was caught wide all the way. However, he gave his all in the straight."

"PASIR PINJI did a good job despite racing wide all the way. He's just a tough horse," said trainer Simon Dunderdale who went on to bag the Wilayah Silver Bowl with MILITARY FLAG.

PASIR PINJI has now raced 32 times for 10 wins, nine of them since coming over from Singapore.