Prominent Singapore Owner Targets Karaka Million Once Again

The weekend’s racing has thrown up a serious contender for the $1 million Karaka Million in January with Dragon Lair (NZ) (Iffraaj) winning on debut in the $12,500 Colleen Mangnall Prestige Real Estate (880m) for owner Dr KC Tan of Singapore.

Dragon Lair (NZ) returning to scale after winning at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Last season saw Dr Tan, a well-known racehorse owner worldwide, target the Karaka Million with one of the race favourites in Gobi Ranger (Tale of the Cat).  Trained by Danica Guy, also the trainer of Dragon Lair, Gobi Ranger went into the last season’s Karaka Million unbeaten, having won on debut before leading all the way in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes, a key lead up race to the Karaka Million.

After beginning awkwardly and racing wide in the feature race last year, Gobi Ranger finished seventh. Not to be deterred, Dr Tan bought another four horses at Karaka the following week with the 2014 Karaka Million in his sights, and already appears to have a leading chance for this season’s edition.

Dragon Lair has started his career in the same winning fashion as Gobi Ranger, an impressive winner on debut. The son of Iffraaj stalked the leaders over the 880m and pounced to the lead at 200m mark, racing away for a 1.3 length victory.

Dr Tan has been strong supporter of NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series over the years and is enjoying the success that has come.

“I have been coming to New Zealand for a number of years now for the Karaka Sales. I have always found the Sale to be very good and, on top of that, the weather at that time of the year is so beautiful. We tend to come down for a holiday with friends and family and buy a few horses that we have done well with in New Zealand and in Singapore too.

“We were fortunate to have Gobi Ranger last year and we have one or two other good ones in New Zealand as well. Hopefully Dragon Lair will get us to the Karaka Million again.

“We really enjoy the Karaka Million because now we not only come down to buy horses but we come down to attend the race.

“We bought some very nice horses last year. We have a very nice High Chaparral (ex Suppose for $220,000 from Hallmark Stud) and a very nice Bel Esprit (ex Star Jasmine for $250,000 from Pencarrow Stud) as well.”

The victory takes Dragon Lair to third on the Order of Entry for the Karaka Million with the colt picking up $7,550 for Saturday’s effort. Dr Tan’s charge looks a likely chance to secure a spot in the Karaka Million field as it took only $3,750 to gain a start in last year’s running of the race.

Bred by Mrs Vicki Vandorp, Dragon Lair is out of the dual stakes winning mare Foxy Blonde (Volksraad), the dam of five to race that have all won. Dr Tan purchased the colt for $80,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Haunui Farm.

The up-to-date Order of Entry for the Karaka Million is available online.