Given Vision Salutes for Karaka in Singapore 3YO Challenge (Third-Leg)

Karaka yearling graduate Given Vision made it consecutive Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge victories when he took the final leg of the lucrative Series at Kranji on Friday night.

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�Given Vision wins the Group 2 Singapore 3YO Challenge (third-leg)������Photo: Singapore TC

Having won the S$350,000 second leg at his last start, Given Vision (Belong to Me x Aurum Valley, by Made of Gold) again received a rousing reception after ducking and diving past his opposition to score in the S$450,000 Group 2 Singapore 3YO Challenge (third leg) (1600m).

The Stephen Gray trained galloper settled towards the tail of the assembled field of Singapore's most talented three-year-olds. Joao Moreira, the man they call Magic, rode his mount with confidence, nursing Given Vision into the home straight before picking his way through the field on the inside.

Given Vision took every opportunity and showed a superior level of class in winning by a length and a half in a time of 1.34.90. This was his fifth win in six starts, and the S$50,000 bonus earned for winning back to back legs of the 3YO Challenge took his career earnings to over S$525,000 for his owners Jupiter Stable.

Kiwi born trainer Stephen Gray was over the moon with the performance of his new star.

"I've been here nine years now and I just feel that it is all starting to happen for me.

"There has been a lot of hard work put into making the business up here work. There are a lot of people that I have to thank for their great support over the years.

"This win is very satisfying as I've bought him along all the way through. He is a very good horse and can go off for a break now."

Sold at the 2007 Karaka Select Sale, the same Sale 2009 Group 1 Queensland Derby victor Court Ruler was sold, Given Vision made $10,000 from the draft of Esker Lodge.

Esker Lodge will offer a draft of eight at the 2009 South Island Sale with highlights including:

Lot 37 - Bay Colt - Bel Esprit x Polar Sky (Hurricane Sky) - Esker Lodge

��������� By leading Victorian-based stallion Bel Esprit, this colt is the third foal of three-time winning mare Polar Sky, herself a half-sister to Group 1 Caulfield Cup and Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Arctic Sword.

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Lot 142 - Brown Colt - Ustinov x Flaming Ruby (Manntari) - Esker Lodge

��������� This colt is from a winning half-sister to Listed Singapore TC Stewards Cup winner Lim's Zerperb, a winner of nine races in total.

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New Zealand Bloodstock graduates won a further four races on the Singapore Turf Club's Friday night program, including with three-year-old Jungle Prince (Jungle Pocket x Founder, by Tale of the Cat) who has now won and placed from two starts for Bruce Marsh and the ST Stable.

Jungle Prince's weanling half-sister will be offered by Te Mania Thoroughbreds at the 2009 South Island Sale.

Lot 194 - Bay Filly - Perfectly Ready x Founder (Tale of the Cat) - Te Mania Thoroughbreds

��������� A filly by exciting young Group 1 winning sire prospect Perfectly Ready, this rising yearling filly is well-grown being a mid-September foal.

��������� From the wonderful Bourbon Lass family, as are Omnicorp, Pharoston, Crimson, and Miss Scarlatti, this filly holds appeal for trainers and traders alike.

Other NZB winners in Singapore include:

Horse	Breeding	Race	Sale/Price	Vendor	Buyer
Daad's The Way	Istidaad x Rodeo Rose	Maiden (1400m)	RTR/$52,500	Mana Park	IOI T'breds
Rainbow Empire	Spartacus x Mission Star	Class 4 (2000m)	K2/$32,500	The Oaks Stud	Patella B'stock
Noble Manor	Stravinsky x Sarwatch	Kranji Stakes (1200m)	K1/$380,000	Pencarrow Stud	David Ellis

For more information and catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale (2 August) and South Island Sale (7 August) please contact reception@nzb.co.nz.

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