Well Done (NZ) Heads Karaka Clean Sweep in Singapore Derby

Star four-year-old Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk) scored his second elite win in a row in Sunday’s S$1.15 million Sgp-1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) at Kranji, heading a grand slam for Karaka graduates who finished first, second, third and fourth in the prestigious classic.

A last-start winner of the Sgp-1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m), Well Done stepped up in distance for the Derby and repeated the result with an exceptional performance.

Ridden by Australian jockey Michael Rodd for trainer David Kok, Well Done raced in midfield before going into overdrive in the straight.

Well Done caught Majestic Moments (NZ) (Darci Brahma) inside the last 50 metres and surged past him to win by three-quarters of a length. Former New Zealand 2000 Guineas placegetter Rockfast (Fastnet Rock) finished another length and a half away in third.

“This is clearly my biggest day as a trainer,” Kok said. “I’ve had many sleepless nights before the race, and tonight I won’t be able to sleep again, it just hasn’t dawned in yet.

“My only worry was the distance, but when I saw Michael put him on the rails and switch him off, I was very confident. Even when he had nowhere to go in the straight, I knew he would run on once he found the gap. I know my horse has a very good turn of foot and he didn’t let me down.”

Well Done has now had 17 starts for seven wins, five placings and more than S$1 million in stakes for owners the Well Done Stable.

Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Well Done is one of six winning foals out of the stakes-winning mare Gold Cloud (NZ) (Truly Vain).

Well Done was offered by Windsor Park at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale and sold to NZB as agent for Singaporean buyers for $90,000.

Well Done’s win was just the beginning of the Karaka graduates’ gold rush in the Singapore Derby.

Runner-up Majestic Moments was offered by the Oaks Stud and purchased for $115,000 at the 2013 Premier Sale. Third placegetter Rockfast was from Curraghmore's draft and a $410,000 purchase at the 2013 Premier Sale. And the fourth-placed Mr Spielberg (NZ) (Pentire) also went through the ring at the 2013 Premier Sale offered by Blandford Lodge and sold for $85,000.

The 2016 NZB Ready to Run Sale is on 16 & 17 November at Karaka with Breeze Ups held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 17 & 18 October.