NZB Duo Quinella QEII
16 April 2007
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates Royal Admiral (Starjo x Kilmaghenny) and Crusoe (Volksraad x Caserio) teamed up to take the quinella in the�Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Kranji on Sunday. They headed a day that saw New Zealand-breds win four other races on the card.
Both Royal Admiral and Crusoe are trained by current Singapore Champion Trainer and New Zealand expat, Laurie Laxon, and will continue to aim for the �International Group 1 S$3 Million Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) on 20 May.
Noel Callow gave Royal Admiral a tidy rails run, unleashing the five-year-old at the 200m marker to win easily by two lengths.��
Royal Admiral was secured by Charlie Faulkner as a weanling for NZ$800 at the 2002 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale from the draft of his Masterton based breeder, Jim Wallace's Ardsley Stud. ��Successful in New Zealand where he raced under the name 'Travis' and won on two occasions, the five-year-old has now won a further six races in Singapore and over S$500,000 in prize money.
The result is a timely boost for weanling vendors at New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming sales with 16 on offer at the Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale (Sunday 22 April), 250 at the National Weanling Sale (Sunday 6 May) and 25 at the Bloomsbury Stud NZ Dispersal Sale (Monday 7 May).
Former New Zealand based jockey Andrew Calder partnered Crusoe, who raced keenly throughout. A top performer in Singapore, Crusoe's second placing followed back-to-back wins which included the $125,000 Punters' Way 30th Anniversary Cup (1400m) at his last start.
Crusoe was bred by Peter and Nancy Izett, who purchased his dam Caserio as a broodmare for NZ$26,000 at the National Broodmare Sale at Karaka. Caserio, bred by Peter and Philip Vela, is also the dam of Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas winner, Dorabella (by Postponed). Bob Emery bought Crusoe as a yearling for NZ$65,000 at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale from Mapperley Stud.
Laxon has a strong hand leading up to the International Cup with Listed Singapore Guineas winner, Ace Armada (Lord Ballina x Royal Caress) another New Zealand-bred contender.
Earlier in the day a New Zealand-bred trifecta took out the first of the ten race card with D'Almighty Star (Woodborough x Lady Hundalee) winning the Class 5 Australian Trophy (1600m) ahead of Oyster Bay (Lord Ballina x Skiff) and Super Rapid Dancer (Towkay x Chums Delight).
D'Almighty Star was bred, owned and trained by Masterton's Andrew Campbell before being sold to Singapore where he is raced from the Emperor Han Stable.
Brent Hrstich bought Oyster Bay at the 2002 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$30,000 from Ardsley Stud while Super Rapid Dancer was sold by Sherris Lodge at the 2002 Central Districts Sale for NZ$4,250.
Race two on the card, the Bangladesh Trophy Maiden (1200m), was won by Stephen Gray's debut performer Championship (Black Minnaloushe x Madamax). From the Laxon stable, fellow debut New Zealand bred starter Clooney (D'Cash x Ellie Weaver) was three-and-a-half-lengths back in second.
Windsor Park Stud sold Championship at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$33,000 to Mike Breslin. Walnut Hill Farms will offer a full-sister at the National Weanling Sale as Lot 141.
In the seventh Lim's Melody (Maroof x Spider) secured victory in the Class 4 Sri Lanka Trophy (1400m) ahead of Storm Watch (Entrepreneur x Penang Rose) and Dream True (Howbaddouwantit x Thor Reign).
Rogerson Bloodstock purchased Lim's Melody for NZ$95,000 at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale from Windsor Park Stud.
Rounding off another great night in Singapore for New Zealand-bred horses, 2004 Karaka Select Sale graduate Big Power (O'Reilly x Ballina Magic) recorded his first win from three starts. Roger Williams purchased the Waikato Stud yearling for NZ$3,000.
The three-year-old Multiple Success (St Petersburg x Vite Princess) came in third. Trained by Laurie Laxon, he was purchased from the 2005 Ready to Run Sale from Cambridge-based Mark Brooks for NZ$18,000.