Mr Clint (NZ) Adds to Proud New Zealand record in Singapore Guineas

With a powerful performance in Saturday’s S$1 million Singapore Guineas (1600m) at Kranji, Mr Clint (NZ) (Power) added his name to a proud recent record for New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates in the prestigious three-year-old race.

Mr Clint became the fourth Kiwi-bred Singapore Guineas winner in the last five years, joining Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park), Affleck (NZ) (Battle Paint) and War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Three of that quartet went through the Karaka sale ring for a relatively low price, with War Affair fetching $70,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale, Debt Collector selling for $30,000 at the 2014 Select Sale and $120,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, and Mr Clint going through the same two Sales in 2016 for $52,500 and $95,000.

Part-owned by expat New Zealander Laurie Laxon, who himself trained six Singapore Guineas winners in a decorated career, Mr Clint overcame a wide run for his impressive win.

With Zac Purton in the saddle, the gelding sat worse than midfield before charging down the centre of the track for a one-length victory.

“I didn’t expect he would show a bit of speed early, even if he was over-racing a little,” Purton said. “I was able to put him back and he relaxed nicely for me from there on in. He pinged in the home straight and was just too good.”

Trained by Lee Freedman for the ownership partnership Phua Chian Kin’s Oscar Racing Stable and Laxon, Mr Clint has had nine starts for four wins, four placings and more than S$790,000 in prize-money.

He has earned more than 15 times his purchase price at the Select Sale, and more than more than eight times his Ready to Run Sale purchase price.

“I bought Mr Clint and I always knew he would be a good horse,” Laxon said. “He has a Zabeel mare, a Danehill mare and a Centaine mare in his pedigree, all royal blood.”