Karaka Graduates Rule Singapore Card

Karaka graduates celebrated a successful evening on the turf at Kranji in Singapore last night, winning six races on the 12 race card.

Opening Karaka's winning account was the Michael Freedman trained Matterhorn (Rock of Gibraltar x Mont Tremblant) who came into last night's S$75,000 My Royal Captain Handicap (1600m) after a month's break from the track.

Unplaced in his last start over a mile, the four-year-old made amends last night as he raced on the pace and produced a good finish, holding his rivals to win by a long neck.

Matterhorn was a $100,000 purchase by Michael Freedman from Lyndhurst Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Premier Sale. The winner of four of his 23 starts with a further 12 placings, the son of Rock of Gibraltar has won over $250,000 in stakes for his owner the Horizon Stable.

Ex-pat kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh and jockey Opie Bosson combined in the sixth on the card with Glownight Racer (Pins x The Big Storm) to win the S$55,000 Taurus 2006 Handicap (1400m).

Purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Waikato Stud at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale for $105,000, the son of Pins raced successfully in New Zealand claiming three wins before being taken to race in Singapore last year. Running second in his first two starts in Singapore in January and February this year, last night's win was his first in eight Singapore starts for his owner Tudor Lodge Racing Stable.

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Red Beard (NZ) wins his sixth career start.
Photo courtesy of the STC.

Bruce Marsh brought up a winning double in the meeting with Red Beard (Zenno Rob Roy x Sandalwood) taking victory under top jockey Joao Moreira in the S$125,000 Jolie's Shinju 2009 Handicap (1400m) for his owners the Auric Stable.

Red Beard has proven himself a talented horse in Singapore in just a short career and Bruce Marsh has a high opinion of the horse.

"He's a top performer. He was a definite Derby horse but he had his problems after Christmas and we just took our time to bring him back," said Marsh.

A $22,000 purchase by Manley Lodge from Walnut Hill Farm at the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, Red Beard has won an impressive six of his eight starts with a further two placings for over $270,000 in stakes.

The three-year-old filly Afternoon Delight (No Excuse Needed x Perennial Delight) broke her maiden in her fifth start last night in the S$35,000 My Royal Captain 2007 Handicap (1400m) by one-and-a-half lengths after racing just off the pace for jockey Wong Weixiang.

Trained by Stephen Gray for owners Here for the Cash Stable, Afternoon Delight was offered by Brighthill Farm at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale and had five trials in New Zealand for two wins and three placings before being taken to Singapore.

In the Class 4 1400m event, Martin (Colombia x Hayletzdance) took the second win of his career for his owner Oscar Racing Stable.

Another horse that raced in New Zealand before being taken to Singapore, Martin ran second at Otaki on debut in January last year for NZ-based trainers Sue Thompson & Mick Brown before being taken to Singapore.

Now under the care of the champion kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon, the three-year-old broke his maiden in early April by two lengths. Martin was offered by Newmarket Lodge at the 2010 South Island Sale of 2YOs.

The last of the six Karaka graduates to claim victory in Singapore last night was Lucky Rise (Handsome Ransom x Pipit) who won the last race on the card, the S$55,000 Speed Baby 2011 Handicap (1400m) by half a length.

A trial winner in Waipa in December 2009 before being taken to Singapore, Lucky Rise won the third race of his 31 start career last night for his trainer Leslie Khoo. A $34,000 purchase by Brett McDonald from Ashwell Farm at the 2008 Karaka Festival Sale, the five-year-old's victory has taken his total stakes earnings to over $140,000 for the Celestial King Stable.

Click here to view the full set of results from last night's Singapore meeting.