Ready to Run Graduates Shine in Kranji Mile

With the 2016 Ready to Run Sale just over a month away, there could be no better advertisement for the quality of horses on offer than the result of Sunday’s S$700,000 Sgp-1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) in Singapore.

Ready to Run Sale graduates Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk) charged home from the back of the field and fought out a stirring finish, with Debt Collector prevailing by a neck.

Debt Collector was ridden by Michael Rodd for trainer Cliff Brown, who bought the horse for $120,000 from the draft of Prima Park at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale.

“I’ve been nervous since Tuesday,” Brown admitted after Sunday’s win. “I have confidence in his ability, but this was his biggest test by far.

“He’s just a remarkable horse who just knows where the post is. It’s onwards to the Raffles Cup now, but he won’t be going for the Gold Cup. Then he will go for a break and we will set him for the Derby next year.”

The win was Debt Collector’s sixth from nine career starts, having previously claimed the Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas (1600m), the Sgp-2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) and the Sgp-3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m).

A son of the stakes-placed mare Prompt Payment (In The Wings), Debt Collector was bred by Windsor Park Stud.

Windsor Park also bred the runner-up Well Done, who has had seven wins and six placings from his 18 starts headed by a win in the Sgp-1 Singapore Derby (2000m). Like Debt Collector, he is a graduate of the Ready to Run Sale, fetching $90,000 in 2013.

Completing a dream result for graduates of the Karaka sale ring, third-placed Majestic Moments (NZ) (Darci Brahma) a $115,000 purchase at the 2013 Premier Sale, the fourth placegetter War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) who was knocked down for $70,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale and the fifth horse home, Mr Spielberg (NZ) (Pentire), who cost $85,000 at the 2013 Premier Sale.

The 2016 edition of NZB's Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds will be held on 16 & 17 November at Karaka. Breeze Ups will be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 17 & 18 October.