Big Maverick Best By Far

Karaka graduate Big Maverick (NZ)�is rapidly establishing himself as the leading three-year-old in Singapore after sealing the second leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge at Kranji on Friday in impressive style.

Just three weeks after he won the first leg of the three-race series, Big Maverick (O'Reilly x Ajfan, by Woodman) showed powerful acceleration to put two-and-a-quarter lengths between him and the rest of the 14-horse field in the S$350,000 1400m event.

Trainer Laurie Laxon purchased Big Maverick as a yearling from the Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$87,500 from breeders Peter & Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud. The three-year-old gelding is now raced by Champagne Stables.

Laxon was very impressed with his latest stable star.

"He is getting stronger and stronger this horse. The mile of the last leg will suit him as I think his dam (Afjan) ran third in the 1000 Guineas (1600m) in England. He's right on target for the third leg," said Laxon.

Laurie Laxon claimed three of the first four runners home with Big Maverick's Kiwi stable mates Dylan (Cape Cross x Kiss it Better) in third, and Ace Amigo (Pentire x Forsaken Gold) in fourth. The Hornet finished in second place.

Winning jockey Saimee Jumat also partnered Big Maverick in the first leg of the Challenge, the 1200m event on 6 June.

Big Maverick is now a winner of six of his 11 career starts, and over S$600,000 in prize money. The final race in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge will take place on 27 July over 1600m.

Ajfan's yearling colt by Tiger Hill was purchased at this year's Karaka Sale by Hong Kong's Magus Equine for NZ$135,000. She is currently in foal to Cambridge Stud newcomer, Lucky Unicorn.

Earlier in the card, 2006 Ready to Run Sale graduate Sonic (Tale of the Cat x Manu by Green Desert) headed a NZ trifecta in the maiden over 1600 metres. Ace Amadeus (Danske x Du Marquis by Gaius) and Triumphant Mars (Ustinov x Fifteen Eleven by Kinjite) filled the minor placings. Mr Lim Siah Mong secured Sonic for NZ$72,500 from George and Ann Marie Simon's Mana Park draft.

Shortly after, Karaka Festival Sale graduate Imperial Green (Senor Pete x Geneva by Warsaw Pact) took the Class 4 over 1600 metres by three-and-a-half-lengths. New Zealand Bloodstock acted as agent to secure him from Raffles Farm's draft for NZ$8,000. The promising three-year-old has raced four times for two wins, a second plus a fourth placing on debut.

Also successful was Dr KC Tan's 2005 Ready to Run Sale purchase Thrill Seeker (Sakura Seeking x Tio Peony by Red Tempo) held on to win the Class 5 over 1600 metres. As part of Gosford Park's draft he fetched NZ$45,000

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