More Singapore Success for Laxon

Singapore's champion trainer Laurie Laxon bathed in yet another feature race glory when Karaka graduate Big Maverick became his twelfth group winner this season in the Group 2 E.W. Barker Trophy over 1400m at Kranji on Saturday.

Laurie Laxon has been a wonderful supporter of horses bred in his birthplace, New Zealand, a loyalty that has rewarded him with four Champion Trainer's titles in Singapore. Laxon who spent $363,000 dollars for four horses just two weeks ago at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale, purchased Big Maverick (O'Reilly - Ajfan, by Woodman) for $87,500 at the 2006 Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Pencarrow Stud.

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�Big Maverick wins a a course record 1.21.8 for 1400m��������� Photo: Singapore Turf Club

The four year old son of O'Reilly won the race in devastating fashion, enjoying the fast tempo three back on the fence before jockey Saimee Jumaat angled him out to make his run over the top of his competitors. He did so, and in beating Fantastic Owners (Fantastic Light) by a length, he ran a course record 1.21.8 over the 1400m long course.

With Saturday's effort showing he's a Derby horse in the making Laxon is considering that path for Big Maverick after his well-earned break. The gelding is owned by Champagne Stables and has won some S$940,000 in prizemoney from his seven victories which include the first two legs of last season's Singapore 3YO Challenge.

Bred in the purple by Pencarrow Stud, Big Maverick is from the wonderful race mare Ajfan. She is by Woodman and raced in top European company, most notably running second to Ivanka (Dancing Brave) in the� Group 1 Ascot Fillies Mile, and third to Sayyedati (Shadeed) and Niche (Risk Me) in the 1993 Group 1 The One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket.

Big Maverick's Waikato Stud sire O'Reilly's success in Singapore has been highlighted by the deeds of Lims Objective and Arenti over the last few seasons. O'Reilly will be represented by 93 lots at the National Yearling Sales Series beginning 26 January at Karaka.