Hong Kong and Singapore Success for NZB RTR Grads
6 October 2008
Singapore and Hong Kong were the stages for yet more winning New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduates at the weekend, with victories by Special Dragon at Sha Tin and Big Honour at Kranji.
In Hong Kong, Special Dragon (Zabeel x Foreign Copy by Bold Venture) was one of five horses carrying the (NZ) suffix to victory yesterday.
Trained by Tony Cruz, Special Dragon was ridden by last year's Champion Apprentice in Hong Kong, KL Chui, to win the Class 3 Chun Shek Handicap (1600m) by one and a third lengths ahead of Crystal and Meridian Pride.
He was purchased at the 2005 Sale for the sale-topping price of NZ$420,000 by Ginger Tankard's Waikato Bloodstock 2000 Ltd from Esker Lodge. Having had just six starts, the win was Special Dragon's second for his owner Lau Wong Fat.
Meanwhile in Singapore on Friday night, fellow NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Big Honour (Shinko King x Lost Chord by Mussorgsky) won race five on the card, the Kranji Stakes C (1800m), for Kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon.
Laxon secured him for NZ$7,500 from Truffle Downs with him being owned by the Champagne Stable, the same as fellow Laxon-trained star and Karaka Premier Sale graduate Big Maverick (O'Reilly x Ajfan by Woodman).
Already last year's Ready to Run Sale has provided six Singapore winners. These include:
- Jayven See's purchase Revolte (French Deputy x Grilse by Rahy) which broke the Clements' stable's streak of 14 second placings since 17 May. Purchased by Jayven See for NZ$140,000 from Esker Lodge, Revolte has produced two wins and two seconds from his four career outings.
- The Michael Clements-trained Ready for Success (More Than Ready x Oaks Room by Jugah) has also made a big impression, winning on debut and following up with the closest of seconds on 19 September. Don Herrick JR purchased him for NZ$150,000 from Twin Pines.
- Daring Shani (Kashani x Amaretti by Straight Strike) was another to win on debut, this time as a juvenile. Winning by over four lengths he was purchased by Mr Kah Wui Lim from Kilgraven Lodge for NZ$27,000.
- One other of Lim's five other purchases Daring Youth (Bertolini x Ebony Pearl by Ebony Grosve) has also recorded his first win. Lim bid to $62,500 to secure him from Timberlee Thoroughbreds.
- Running first by over three lengths last week was the Brian Dean trained Military Express (General Nediym x Arias by Salieri). He was a NZ$115,000 purchase by Mr Lim Siah Mong from Lyndhurst Farm.
- Kris Katana (Ishiguru x Morocco by Catrail) won his second start just ten days ago in the Singapore TC Restricted Maiden Stakes (1400m). Owned by the K Stable, he's trained by David Hill, who purchased him for NZ$120,000 from Chequers Stud. Hill - who has a good opinion of the youngster - will now look to prepare him for the $200,000 Stewards Cup over 1400m.