Karaka Trifecta in Singapore Feature

Star four-year-old, Why Be (Success Express x Charybdis), led a Karaka trifecta in the feature race on the card, the Group 3 S$200,000 Singapore 4YO Sprint (1200m), on Sunday.  This capped off several top performances by other Karaka graduates.

This was Why Be's sixteenth victory from just nineteen starts. When the starting gates crashed open Jockey Barend Vorster simply bounced Why Be to the front from his number two barrier and that is where he stayed, crossing the finish line two-and-three-quarter-lengths ahead of [Laurie Laxon-trained] stablemate, and fellow Karaka Select Sale graduate, Crusoe (Volksraad x Caserio), who had the services of Aaron Spiteri in the saddle. Zinly (Danasinga x La Cent) finished a neck behind in third.

Why Be was sold by Cambridge vendors, Chequers Stud, at the 2004 Sale where he was knocked down to the bid of Takanini horseman Bruce Wallace for NZ$26,000. Why Be's stake earnings are now a shade off S$1.2million.

Crusoe was bought by Bob Emery, from Mapperley Stud at the same Sale, for NZ$65,000. Zinly was a Karaka Premier Sale purchase by Tony Pike from Waikato Stud for NZ$65,000.

Both Crusoe and Zinly are represented by half-brothers at next week's Karaka Premier Sale. A half-brother to Crusoe by Black Minnaloushe will be consigned under the Windsor Park Stud banner as Lot 84 and a half-brother to Zinly, by Pins, will be presented by Waikato Stud as Lot 229.

In the Class 3 event over 1200m, Lim's Oasis (O'Reilly x Morar) scored a decisive victory, winning by four-and-a-quarter lengths.  The consistent galloper has only finished further back than third on two occasions with this victory his fourth from twelve starts.  He was purchased by former top Australian jockey, Mick Dittman, from Bloomsbury Stud, for NZ$51,000 at the 2004 Karaka Ready to Run Sale. The New Zealand-bred Lion City Hero (Mellifont x Melody Tempo) filled third spot behind Sapphire Racer.

In the Class 4 event over 1400m, Screaming Eagle (Catbird x Melodrama) posted his third win. He was a Jerry Sung purchase at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale in 2004 from Halo Farm for NZ$200,000.

Coup Leader (Sandtrap x Deceo) won the last race on the card decisively by two-and-a-half-lengths in the Progress 1200m. He was bought by Te Awamutu trainer, Robert Priscott, at the Karaka Select Sale from Curraghmore Stud for NZ$25,000, and raced as Swift in New Zealand before continuing his career in Singapore.

Big Power (O'Reilly x Ballina Magic) broke Maiden ranks over 1200m at just his second start. He was bought by Roger Williams at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale from Waikato Stud's draft for just NZ$3,000. Four lengths behind him was Mawensi (Kilimanjaro x Mistress Gold), purchased as a weanling by Mr RJ Watson at the National Mixed Bloodstock Sale from Westbury Stud for NZ$1,000. New Zealand bred Golden Tiger (Istidaad x Solzaam) finished in third.

On Saturday afternoon, a further three New Zealand Bloodstock graduates took line honours in Singapore.

Lim's Prestige (Pins x Stirling Jo), won the Class 4 (Div 1) over 1200m. He was another purchase by Mick Dittman, this time from Phoenix Park at the 2004 Karaka Ready to Run Sale for NZ$47,000.  Doug Rawnsley originally bought the gelding from Rosehill Farm at the Karaka Select Sale of that year for NZ$16,000.

Brilliant Gold (Faltaat x Ever A Lady took out another Class 4 event, this time over 2000m. He was a 2003 Karaka Select Sale purchase by Tony Noonan from Westbury Stud for NZ$70,000. He was a clear four lengths ahead of Talent (Bahhare x Lacy Tops), also a Bruce Wallace purchase, this time from JK Farm, for NZ$30,000 at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale.

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Big Steel (Carnegie x Royal Dancer), took out the Class 5 event over 1600m. He was purchased by Richard O'Gorman for NZ$200,000 at the 2003 Sale from Trelawney Stud