The Pakistan Star has rejected suggestions that this story about two-year-old colt Tungtungtung Sahur, who faded to finish second-last of nine runners on debut at Randwick on Saturday, was commissioned entirely due to the viral effect surrounding the horse’s name. 

Editor James Whitetail said all other horses that finished second-last that day would also receive the same level of coverage, in time.

“This is standard editorial practice,” Whitetail told his own masthead, saying that it “could not be proven” that the Peter Snowden-trained son of Tiger Of Malay “was in any way related to” the wooden, bat-wielding internet character named Tung Tung Tung Sahur. 

Whitetail said the story also had nothing to do with a seemingly innocuous mounting yard clip of the horse posted on Sky Racing’s Instagram channel, which has to date generated over 600,000 shares, and that he “was not aware of the post, or its success”.

This masthead understands that racing social media managers around the country are already trying to think of creative ways to mention Tungtungtung Sahur the horse again.

The Pakistan Star however confirmed that this masthead will not be posting needlessly about Tungtungtung Sahur in future, other than to provide rolling coverage of its own bid to secure a 2027 Everest slot for itself, which it will then use to hand Tungtungtung Sahur a start in the $20 million race.

Despite failing over 1000m on debut, Whitetail said of the unlikely Everest bid: “We feel he’s the perfect type to take on the Randwick 1200m, and should be competitive with Ka Ying Rising with some natural improvement.”

Whitetail also confirmed that The Pakistan Star sent a consolation basket of fruit to Tungtungtung Sahur’s box after the race.

More to follow.