Beau Brummell Grabs First Group Race

New Zealand galloper Beau Brummell grabbed the first leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, the Group 3 Singapore TC Merlion Trophy (1200m), to secure his first Group success in Singapore on Friday night.

Beau Brummell, an excitingsprinting sonof Berkley Stud's My Halo (Southern Halo)

Trained by British trainer David Hill, Beau Brummell (My Halo - Lady in Blue, by Crested Wave) settled three back on the fence for jockey Michael Cahill, with a strong pace ensuing thanks to the battle for the lead between British Navy (Pure Prize) and Jolie's Shinju (Jolie's Halo).

Entering the straight, Cahill had to be patient, with British Navy stopping in front of him and the challenges of Waikato (Pins) and Capablanca (Scenic) being mounted on his immediate outside, leaving the chestnut with no room to move.

At the 150m the gap appeared and Beau Brummell was pulled off the back of Waikato's heals and let strip with a dazzling turn of foot to quickly over-power the field, winning in a time of 1.09:6 minutes, just 0.4 seconds outside Yorick's eight year old record.

The result was a quinella for NZB graduates, with the Laurie Laxon trained Waikato finishing one and a quarter lengths back in second place after a tough run in transit, three wide without cover.

Beau Brummell is a graduate of the 2006 South Island Sale where he was bought from Berkley Stud for $22,000 before going through the 2006 Ready to Run Sale in the Mana Park draft. David Hill purchased the gelding out of a half-sister to Group 1 ARC Easter Handicap winner Honour Bound (Honor Grades) for $50,000, and he is now raced by Dr Omie Rangabashyam's Byerley Stable.

Dr Rangabashyam has been a fantastic supporter of New Zealand horses at Karaka, purchasing a further two at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale. Lot 97, a gelding by St Petersburg from the Kilgravin Lodge draft for $15,000, and Lot 397, a chestnut colt by My Halo from Arnwood Farm for $85,000.

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates performed extremely well across Asia over the weekend withplenty of winnersand placings in Group 1 features.