Better Than EVER!
19 April 2010
Keeping his perfect record intact, Karaka Premier Sale graduate Better Than Ever gave the Group 2 Singapore TC Singapore 3YO Classic (1400m) field a schooling in how to gallop with an ultra-impressive seven length win at Kranji on Sunday night.
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�Better Than Ever in front again. Photo: STC |
In the hands of regular race-day rider Saimee Jumaat, Better Than Ever (French Deputy x Songfest by Unbridled's Song) took his win tally to eight from eight and now has the first two legs of the Singapore 3YO Challenge firmly sealed away. Raced by Tang Weng Fei's Jupiter Stables, trainer Laurie Laxon will now aim him for the last race in the prestigious series, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on 14 May.
Jumaat was bursting with praise for the Singapore star after the race.
"He is definitely one of the best gallopers I have ridden. He's still a three-year-old growing up but he is already a world class horse."
Better Than Ever's dam Songfest is by the imposing grey stallion Unbridled's Song who also sired the dam of Saturday's Group 1 AJC Oaks winner Once Were Wild (Johannesburg). Woodbine Farm will offer a broodmare, Lot 484, by the sire at NZB's May Sale.
Otaki-based bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo identified Better Than Ever as a prospective purchase for trainer Laurie Laxon at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale, with Laxon eventually bidding to $80,000 to secure him from Blandford Lodge.
The weekend proved a successful one for the Cataldo who also privately secured Listed winner Herculian Prince (Yamanin Vital) for the Waterhouse stable.
Earlier in the night NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Daring Junior (Drama Critic x Letty by Touching Wood) was impressive in winning the Maiden over 1400m. Despite racing greenly he knuckled down to win by over three lengths off the back of a narrow defeat for second on debut.
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�Daring Junior stretching out to win the Maiden 1400. Photo: STC |
The three-year-old is trained by Cliff Brown and raced by Sunny Lim of the Lucky Rich Stable, with the combination already enjoying success with the family, originally owning the dam and successfully racing Daring Junior's half-brother Daring Commander (The Commander) for seven wins.
While Lim mentioned a possible tilt at the Singapore Guineas, in which he'd meet Better Than Ever, Brown commented.
"He's a very nice horse. He's still doing a lot wrong but I think he has plenty of scope"
Daring Junior was bred by Kaiwaka-based breeders John and Jan Hargreaves to be sold by Durham Farm at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale for $20,000.