It was a weekend of success for New Zealand in Singapore, with New Zealand-bred horses winning eleven out of the nineteen races over the two days.

On Sunday, New Zealand-breds won six races on the ten-race card, including the two feature events.  Heading these was Arenti (O'Reilly x Gio), trained by John Meagher, who took out the Group 3 S$200,000 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m).  Having his eighth win from just eleven starts, this five-year-old looks to have "star-in-the-making" written all over him, at the same time as his half-brother, Crepe de Chine (by Pins), put in a promising performance over the weekend at Caulfield.

On Sunday, New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Fairy Tale (Shinko King x Winter's Tale) won one of the feature races, the S$125,000 Open 1400m.  Trained by Michael Clements, the 2003 Karaka Select Sale graduate was bought by Stuart Hale from Esker Lodge for NZ$30,000.  The consistent performer now has earnings to date of over S$376,600.

Other winners included NZB graduates Pura Vida (Green Perfume x It's My Party), River Rouge (O'Reilly x Nicole's Niner) and Zinly (Danasinga x La Cent).  Kash on the Way (Kashani x Jude's Pride) and Titan Fun (Danske x Our Shelby) rounded off the stellar day.

The Saturday card was highlighted by a New Zealand Bloodstock quinella in the S$95,000 Kranji Stakes B (1200m) with smart four-year-old gelding Crusoe (Volksraad x Caserio) getting home ahead of Itmaybeyou (Howbaddouwantit x Julie's Sailboat).  

Crusoe has now had five wins from twelve lifetime starts.  A NZ$65,000 purchase from Mapperley Stud at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale, he is raced by Bob Emery and trained by Laurie Laxon.  Crusoe's win only continues to enhance the reputation of his sire, Volksraad, in the region, who is represented by ten entries in the upcoming Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

Itmaybeyou - a NZ$22,500 purchase by Bruce Wallace at the Karaka Premier Sale - has himself never finished further back than fourth in any of his eleven career starts. His five wins include the second leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge (1400m) in June.

Other New Zealand winners on Saturday included 2003 Festival Sale graduate Big Occasion (Mellifont x Repremand), Majesticardo (Anziyan x Fox) also trained by Laurie Laxon, and Rollin Rich (Yachtie x Gia Sellina), while NZB graduate Zibellino (Danehill x Doe) had to play second fiddle to King's Carnival in the S$125,000 Open Class over 1800m.

Further Hong Kong Success on Sunday

Karaka graduates performed well again in Hong Kong on Sunday taking three on the card and were runners-up in both feature races.

Maverick (Volksraad x Kape Dancer), Towering Feeling (Faltaat x Miss Tree) and Native Language (Royal Academy x Audencia) all won whilst other Karaka graduates had to be satisfied with minor placings in the two feature races on the card, both worth HK$1,000,000. 

Five-year-old, Jiang Jun (Danske x Carol Singer), was second to Royal Delight in the Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup, Class 2 (1000m). The gelding was a $34,000 buy from the 2003 Select Sale draft of Esker Lodge, by Cambridge trainer Chris Wood.

In the Changchun Handicap Class 2 (1400m) Being Famous (Gold Brose x Chester Square) ran second to Down Town.  It was a Karaka two-three in this race, as third home was Win Again (Mellifont x Goodness Me).  Both these horses were Karaka Select Yearling sale graduates;  Being Famous going through the ring for $32,500 in 2002 from the Grangewilliam Stud draft to the bid of Robbie Hewetson, and Win Again bought by Australian bloodstock agent Shane Moore from Northgate Lodge for $42,000.