Royal Win in Singapore
4 December 2006
It was a successful day for the Kiwis at the top end of the card in Singapore yesterday when bargain buy, Royal Admiral (Starjo x Kilmaghenny), took out the feature, the S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A (1400m). Trained by expatriate New Zealander, Laurie Laxon for the Dragon Stable, the five-year-old gelding came from midfield in the straight to challenge Graduate Boy and went on to win by a length.
Royal Admiral was purchased as a weanling by local racing identity Charlie Faulkner for NZ$800 from Ardsley Stud at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Royal Admiral - who raced in New Zealand as Travis - won two races at home for trainers Rudy and Megan Liefting before continuing his career in Singapore where he has added a further four wins to his tally, from a total of twenty-four starts.
Earlier on the card, 2004 Karaka Select Yearling Sale graduate, Stealth (Sakura Seeking x Larrikin Lady) prevailed in the S$65,000 Novice (1600m). The four-year-old gelding, trained by Bruce Marsh for the AJ Racing Stable gained his second win from just four starts with New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder aboard. By Newmarket Lodge's resident sire Sakura Seeking, he was purchased from their draft by Stuart Hale and Stephen Marsh for NZ$14,000. There are six entries by Sakura Seeking at the upcoming National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka which commences on 29 January 2007.
In the following race, the S$75,000 Class 3 (1200m), the three-year-old Majesticardo (Anziyan x Fox) gained his third win from his fourth start. Bred by Colin Wightman he is trained by Michael Clements for the Classican Stable.
Those who saw Saturday's win by Capablanca (Scenic x Ahava) in one of the features, the S$95,000 Class 2 (1200m), will no doubt be looking forward to catching a glimpse of his half-sister by Falbrav at the 2007 Karaka Select Yearling Sale. She will be Lot 487 and sold under the banner of Highview Stud. Before transferring to the stable of Don Baertschiger, the five-year-old gelding -who raced under the name Johnnie Roucke in Australia - won four from four in his home country. Now owned by the Capablanca Stable he has added to that tally with a further three wins.
Karaka graduate Coup Leader (Sandtrap x Deceo), took out the Class 4 (1400m) in fine style, winning by over two lengths. The four-year-old gelding was also a 2004 Karaka Select Sale purchase by Te Awamutu trainer, Robert Priscott, for NZ$25,000 from Curraghmore Stud. He is trained by Steven Burridge for the Top Champ Stable.