NZ Wins Big in Singapore
9 June 2008
Kiwi bred three-year-old Big Maverick highlighted an impressive display by New Zealand thoroughbreds at Kranji on Friday night, taking out the first leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge (1200m) and heading a line-up of five NZ bred winners on the night.
With four wins, two seconds and a third under his belt from his nine career starts, there were high hopes for the Laurie Laxon trained Big Maverick (O'Reilly x Ajfan, by Woodman) heading into Friday's event. Despite a minor hold up as they turned for home, Jumaat Saimee guided Big Maverick into the clear to storm down the straight and past the leader, Dream Lad, who finished two lengths back in second place.
Bred by Peter & Philip Vela, Big Maverick was bought as a yearling from the Karaka Premier Sale by Laurie Laxon for NZ$87,500 and is now raced by Champagne Stables. 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.
The second leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge (1400m) will take place on 27 June. Already a three-time winner over 1400m, including in the Listed Stewards' Cup in December, Big Maverick will be a big hope heading into next contest.
Other New Zealand winners on the night were Luminous Dragon (NZ) (Kashani x Diamond Lady, by Senor Pete), Rooy (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy x Gu Li, by Last Tycoon), Imperial Green (NZ)(Senor Pete x Geneva, by Warsaw Pact) and Cristoforo (NZ) (Yachtie x Bride of Pompeii, by Pompeii Court).
Luminous Dragon (NZ) started the Kiwis' winning streak in Race 1, the Class 5 event over 1100m, with just the second career victory for the three-year-old trained by Charles Leck. Bred by Highview Stud, the gelding was purchased from the Karaka Ready to Run Sale for NZ$12,000.
In Race 2, a debut win by Rooy (NZ) headed a NZ trifecta in Danny Beasley's first ride back from his three week suspension. Trained by Dr KC Yeoh for the President of the Korean Racehorse Owners Association, Rooy's win in the S$65,000 1400m Restricted Maiden event for Two & Three Year Olds is the first from just two outings for the son of Van Nistelrooy.
Tuxedo Moon (NZ) (Stravinsky x Jennifer Rush, by Prince Echo) ran second for Don Baertschiger, with Eleventh Avenue (NZ) (Sandtrap x Diamond Edition, by Kaapstad) in third for Desmond Koh.
Race 4 saw Imperial Green (NZ) take out the other Restricted Maiden event for Two & Three Year Olds over 1400m, for ex-pat NZ trainer Stephen Gray. An $8,000 yearling from the Karaka Festival Sale it is the three-year-old's first win from three career starts.
The final New Zealand winner on the card was Cristoforo (NZ) in Race 9, a promising three-year-old trained by Stephen Burridge for Emcee Stable. The $95,000 Open Benchmark 83 Stakes over 1400m gave Cristoforo his fourth win from ten starts, and his third in a row.