Big Maverick Grabs Singapore Group 1

21 October 2009

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Big Maverick took out the feature race in Singapore over the weekend when winning the Singapore Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) in a time just 0.3 seconds off the track record.

Big Maverick

Big Maverick wins the Singapore Group 1 Raffles Cup

Photo: Singapore Turf Club

Making his run from behind mid-field Big Maverick (O'Reilly x Ajfan by Woodman) �reeled in stable mate and fellow Karaka Premier Sale graduate Waikato (Pins x Skywalker Wilkes by Skywalker) when running a winning time of 1.47.00.

Big Maverick was backing up from a last start second to Waikato in the Listed STC Kranji Mile (1600m). Cheyenne Dancer, who placed third in the Kranji Mile, this time split the Laurie Laxon trained duo in finishing second, while another Karaka graduate Given Vision flashed home for fourth.

Laxon, Singapore's reigning Champion Trainer over the past five seasons, �purchased Big Maverick from Pencarrow Stud for NZ$87,500 at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale.

The son of O'Reilly has now won on eight occasions and has amassed S$1,578,540 in stake-money for the Champagne Stable.

Big Maverick is now being aimed at the Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on 8 November.

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates won 10�of the 21 races�(two meetings) conducted at Kranji Racecourse over the weekend. These included four Karaka Ready to Run Graduates:

Name Breeding Race Sale, Price Vendor� Buyer
Bumble Bee Bertolini x All About Money Open (1800m) K2, $42,000 Rich Hill Stud Paul Moroney
How Can Stop� Desert Fox x Honormatic Class 5 (1900m) K2, $15,000 Westbury Stud BJ and J Lindsay
Harrison Spectatorial x Blue Reality Class 5 (1200m) K2, $40,000 Hallmark Stud Laurie laxon
Daring Youth Bertolini x Ebony Pearl Class 5 (1200m) K2, $30,000 Hallmark Stud Kah Wui Lim
Ryan James Thorn Park x Mighty Myrtle Class 3 (1200m) Carn, $52,000 Wellfield Lodge Stephen Gray
Caiyaya Colombia x Pesaro Maiden (1000m) RTR, $20,000 Mana Park Brian Hedley
Mission Supremo Honours List x Right Action Kranji C Stakes (2400m) RTR, $67,500 Flying Stables Stephen Gray
Certain Prince Captain Rio x Country Life Initiation Plate (1400m) RTR, $80,000 G.Grankvist Mr. J Sung
Winning Heart Howbaddouwantit x Island Girl Class 4 (1800m) RTR, $65,000 Sir James Lodge Brian Dean
Langstraat O'Reilly x Salimha Class 4 (1400m) K2, $70,000 Waikato Stud NZB as agent

Entered in the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale (17 November) are nine progeny by Big Maverick's sire O'Reilly and eight by his stable-mate Pins (sire of Waikato).

Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Ready To Run Sale can now be viewed at http://www.nzb.co.nz/.

Hard copies are available from reception@nzb.co.nz.

Breeze-ups successfully took place at Te Rapa Racecourse over the past two days.

To order your copy of the Breeze Ups on DVD for TV or PC contact Marketing Executive Haylie Martin on +64 9 298 0055 or email haylie.martin@nzb.co.nz

For assistance with hotel bookings in Auckland for November contact NZB Hospitality Coordinator Victoria Vela on +64 9 298 0055 or email victoria.vela@nzb.co.nz