New Zealanders Dominate in Singapore

It was a New Zealand domination in Singapore on Friday with seven names carrying the (NZ) suffix across the line first, including two trifectas and a quinella in the feature event.

In the feature race on the card, the Progress S$75,000 (1400m), Luke Currie sat mid-field on My Royal Captain (Zabeel x Kiwi Magic) before fighting to the line to score by a head from the fast finishing Jaywin (Align x Iamascene).

This was My Royal Captain's fourth win from just ten starts for his owner Dragon Stable and gave expatriate New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon his 500th win in Singapore since he began training there six years ago. The victory also secured a hat trick of wins on the night for Laxon. My Royal Captain is now headed for the Singapore 4YO Mile a week on Sunday.

Both four-year-olds were sold at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series. Bred by Don & Rochelle McLaren, My Royal Captain was bought by bloodstock agent Rob McAnulty for NZ$120,000 from the Haunui Farm Premier Sale draft. Jaywin was purchased by Stuart Hale from the Festival Sale for NZ$14,000 from Halo Farm.

Laxon's other two wins came courtesy of the Class 4 winners Coppola (Danske x Elabama Star) - over the 1400m event - and Guy of Warwick (High Yield x Down View) over 1200m.

Coppola was steered to his third victory by New Zealand jockey, Andrew Calder. Coppola was purchased by Laxon at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale from Phoenix Park for NZ$60,000.

The three-year-old Guy of Warwick registered his second win from just three starts. He was purchased by Laxon at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$65,000. After the race Laxon confirmed that Down View will now visit five-time Group 1 winner and reigning champion three-year-old in New Zealand, Darci Brahma, who has recently retired to stud duties.

Also successful on the night:

Race 1: in the Class 5 (1100m) event, Royal Dancer (Sandtrap x Royal Eve) scored a two-and-a-half length victory and his fifth career win. He was purchased from Millfield Stud for NZ$35,000 at the 2001 Karaka Select Colts Sale.

Race 2: In the Restricted Maiden for two and three-year-olds (1200m), Mahnik Bashah (Mellifont x Piece of Cake) won by nearly three lengths, this his first win from his fourth start. He was purchased by Mr CE Goss for NZ$11,000 at the 2005 Karaka Festival Sale from Birchwood Farm.

Race 3: New Zealand Bloodstock graduates scored a trifecta in the Maiden (1600m). Leading the way was Hot or Not (Towkay x Glacier Queen) an Alan Jones purchase from Anzac Lodge's Karaka Ready to Run draft for NZ$19,000. He won by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Saturday Gold (Gold Brose x Satonda) with Individualist (Turbulent Dancer x Otehi Opal) - who raced as Brego in New Zealand - in third place. Both placegetters were purchased by Stuart Hale & Co: Saturday Gold from Waikato Stud's 2003 Karaka Select Sale draft for NZ$40,000, and Individualist from Newmarket Lodge Stud at the 2002 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$17,000.

Race 4: In another Kiwi trifecta, three-year-old Common's Gold (St Petersburg x Commonplace) won his first race day start in the Initiation 1200m. He was ahead of fellow NZ-breds Golden Tiger (Istidaad x Solzaam) and Starry Fire (Danzalion x Day Care).

Meanwhile in the feature RM$80,000 Wilayah Silver Bowl Class 1 & 2 (1800m) in Selangor yesterday, Big Crown (Monde Bleu x Arena Pride) registered his fifth win crossing the line nearly five lengths ahead to break the winning streak of Australian-bred, Black Jambhala. Big Crown was purchased by prominent owner Mr Ooi Tang Beng and Mrs Chew Si for NZ$21,000 at the Karaka Festival Sale from Loch Haven Thoroughbreds.