Alibi (NZ) Does It Again in Patron’s Bowl

Following his victory in Sunday’s S$500,000 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) at Kranji, Karaka graduate Alibi (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is now two-thirds of the way to an unprecedented clean sweep of Singapore’s Four-Year-Old Challenge.

No horse has ever won all three races, but Alibi now has the chance to make history in the Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 9.

After a brave half-length win in the Stewards’ Cup (1400m) in late May, Alibi stepped up in distance on Sunday and delivered a repeat result. With champion jockey Glen Boss in the saddle he hit the lead halfway down the straight and had to fight off a host of challengers all the way to the line. He rose to the challenge and held on tenaciously to score by a short head. Another Karaka graduate, Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock), was third.

“I really respect this horse, he has such a great determination to win,” Boss said.

“I held him up as long as I could. When the chasers came around, I counted and counted before I let him go. He reproduced the same acceleration he showed at his last start. I’m not sure about going to the Derby, but this horse has such a will to win.”

Trained by Michael Clements, Alibi has now had 12 starts for seven wins, four placings and more than S$900,000 in stakes.

“I’ve been an owner for 30 years from the time of Royal Demus and Walk The Talk. I’ve had horses with Douglas Dragon and M Ismail, but this is the best horse I’ve had,” part-owner Mr Saeful said. “Most people only talk about Debt Collector and Lim’s Cruiser. I think after those two wins, it’s time they start talking about Alibi!”

A grandson of the Group 1-winning mare Honor Bound (NZ) (Honor Grades), Alibi was bred by Terry and Vicki Pascoe.

Offered by Esker Lodge at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale, he was bought by Clements for $90,000. The horse has earned more than 10 times that amount in prize-money.