Timely Success for NZB RTR Graduates in Singapore

A successful weekend of racing in Singapore saw Karaka graduates feature on both Friday and Sunday, winning eight races across the two days.

Peregrine Falcon (NZ) winning the S$35,000 Class 5 in Singapore. Photo courtesy of the STC.

All eight of the winners were graduates of the National Yearling Sales Series, with four of the winning horses doubling as Ready to Run Sale graduates as well.

Starting the winning run in good fashion on Friday night was Ready to Run Sale graduate Peregrine Falcon (NZ) (Fully Fledged), winning the first on the card. Prepared by Leslie Khoo, the son of Fully Fledged finished the best in the S$35,000 Class 5 race over 1600m.

“He pulled up well and was in good form,” commented Khoo. “You never know with these Class 5 horses but this horse has been pretty consistent at this level (including four consecutive seconds a few months ago).

“I told Troy (See) to settle him somewhere in midfield and just ride him quiet and he will come home.”

Purchased by Riverview Farm from Fairdale Stud at the 2012 Karaka Festival Sale, Peregrine Falcon was offered by Riverview Farms at the 2012 Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by Dean Wiles for NZ$42,500.

Fellow 2012 Festival Sale and Ready to Run Sale graduate Lucky Strategy (NZ) (Elusive City) was also in winning form, heading home a Karaka trifecta in the fifth race on Friday night with Zac Command (NZ) (Ishiguru) and Super Velox (NZ) (Bahhare) finishing in second and third places respectively.

The Michael Freedman trained Davinci (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) was one of two graduates to win over the weekend having come from the 2013 Ready to Run Sale. Davinci was offered at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale by Windsor Park Stud who then re-offered the son of Mastercraftsman in November as a two-year-old, purchased by Nestor Chan for NZ$50,000.

The other winner offered at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale was Dragon Fury (NZ) (Sufficient) for trainer Alwin Tan, winning his third race from 14 starts in the S$60,000 Class 4 Handicap over 1400m.

The success of the Ready to Run Sale is timely with entries closing this Friday (14 August).

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale is the most successful sale of its kind in Australasia, producing four times the number of Group wins of any comparable sale in the past three seasons including 12 Group 1 wins in that time.

There were a further four winners over the weekend in Singapore with National Yearling Sales Series graduates to the fore.

Having one start for one win, Golden Sword (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was purchased by trainer Cliff Brown at the 2014 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$45,000 from Westbury Stud. Joining the son of Swiss Ace was the  2013 Karaka Festival Sale graduate Gilt Complex (NZ) (Gold Centre), sold to Anna Scott Racing for NZ$10,000 from Newmarket Lodge, now trained by John O’Hara.

Ex-pat kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon had success with two of his Karaka graduate purchases with Alan (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Hee's Forte (NZ) (O'Reilly). Laxon purchased Alan at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$65,000 from Little Avondale Stud and returned to the 2013 Karaka Select Sale where he secured the son of champion sire O’Reilly, Hee’s Forte, for NZ$25,000 from Waikato Stud.

Capping a successful weekend for New Zealand horses in Singapore was star kiwi galloper Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) as he made an impressive return from injury with a dominant five-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Sgp-3 Woodlands Handicap.

Last season’s Champion Four-Year-Old in Singapore, Spalato had to carry topweight to victory for trainer John O’Hara and owners Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell, keeping intact his unbeaten record in Singapore. The son of Elusive City was having his first run this season having last raced in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December where he pulled up sore.

Next on the NZB sales calendar is the Ready to Run Sale of two-year-olds on the 18 & 19 November with breeze ups on the 19 & 20 October. Nominations for the Sale close at the end of this week (Friday 14 August), the entry form can be downloaded from our website www.nzb.co.nz.