NZB Three are Scintillating in Singapore

Over a weekend which saw New Zealand-breds clean-up eleven of twenty-one �races in Singapore the most exciting outcomes came from three exciting three-year-olds, two who remain unbeaten on the Kranji turf and another who is really starting to hit his straps.

Laurie Laxon trained Mexican Rose (Volksraad x Down View, Gone West) continued on the only way she knows, racing away for her third consecutive Singapore win over older opposition in the S$75,000 Class 3 1200m.

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�Mexican Rose (Volksraad)

The Group 3 Juvenile Championship winner may have only got home by a nose but her time was impressive at 1.10.10, one and a half seconds faster than the other two events held over 1200m on the same night.

The winner of close to $200,000 now for the Jupiter Stable, Mexican Rose was purchased by Laxon for $85,000 from the draft of Chesterfields at the 2008 Premier Yearling Sale.

Laxon will now look to Open Sprint races in Singapore for his tough filly with the Kranji Stakes C nominated as a future assignment.

Laxon has more to think about with his other unbeaten three-year-old Better Than Ever (French Deputy x Songfest, by Unbridled's Song).

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�Better Than Ever (French Deputy)

The winner of two races by a combined winning margin of twelve lengths, Better Than Ever has been struggling to find opposition with his nomination into three-year-old contests scaring competitors away and in the process leading to the abandonment of suitable races for the gelding being dubbed a super-star.

Laxon commented, "He sure likes to run, doesn't he?

Now the question is what next. If I put him in a three-year-old race he will frighten them off again," said Laxon in allusion to the "walkover" when Better Than Ever was the only entry in a three-year-old race that had to be scrapped.

"He wasn't meant to run in tonight's race but I didn't have a choice. I will need to have a close look at the programme to look for a suitable race for him."

Better Than Ever was purchased by Laxon from Blandford Lodge at the 2008 Premier Yearling Sale for $80,000 and he is now raced by Jupiter Stable.

Earlier on the same card trainer Michael Clements saddled up Donttellthewife (Volksraad x Juliette Heights, by Shirley Heights) to win his maiden over 1400m by a length margin.

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�Donttellthewife (Volksraad)

The colt secured by Noble Bloodstock for $40,000 at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale immediately repaid his purchase price with victory at his third start having shown marked improvement in professionalism from race to race.

Trainer Michael Clements discussed his colt post race.

"It was a name suggested by one of the owners and was not meant in a bad way," said Clements.

"It was more like 'Don't tell the wife I bought her a diamond.

They're a group of new owners and wanted to have some fun with the name. It's a big thrill to see the horse win for them."

Clements admitted he was pleasantly surprised by the win given he had earmarked him more as a miler in the making.

"I thought it might be too short for him today, but that's what classy types of horse do. They win even when they are short of their best," said the Zimbabwean conditioner.

"He's bred to stay and will probably be better suited over the mile and up to 1800m."

The Group 3 Singapore Guineas for 3YO over 1600m is a race Clements has penciled in for his exciting Karaka purchase.