Singapore Double for Karaka Ready to Run

Friday evening in Singapore saw New Zealand-breds stake claim on four of nine races with two nice wins by graduates of Karaka's Ready to Run Sale.

Purchased just nine months ago, What a Cat (One Cool Cat x Shanghai Girl, by Distant Relative) backed up his second placing last start to score a half-length win in the S$65,000 Initiation (1100m).

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�What a Cat takes his earnings to NZ$50,000

Settled beautifully by leading hoop Joao Moreira, What a Cat pounced on his rivals 200m out and maintained his advantage all the way to the line to give his trainer Mohd Yusof an early winner on the Kranji card.

Bred by Blyth Tait and Paul O'Brien of Chesterfields, What a Cat was a $25,000 purchase at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale by Soon Hock Lee, a fantastic supporter of the Karaka breeze-up Sale.

What a Cat breezed in a time of 11.25 (click here) for the 200m section of Te Rapa turf (Dead 6) in a style which now sees him the winner of close to NZ$50,000 after a win and second placing in his last couple of starts for Lee Le Paris Stable.

Jockey Moreira commented "He's still young and I think he'll be better over more ground."

Later in the program six-year-old Daring Commander (The Commander x Letty, by Touching Wood) showed the durability and longevity of the Kiwi-breed when scoring his seventh win in his fourth Singapore season.

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�Daring Commander wins his seventh career victory

Taking his earnings close to NZ$300,000, the front running Daring Commander�became trainer Cliff Brown's most winning (number of wins)�horse in the S$65,000 Class 3 (1600m).

His owner Sunny Lim was ecstatic in his charge's second win in his past three starts commenting:

"Cliff's a great horseman. He gave him (Daring Commander)�the rest he needed and he's come back a transformed horse."

Mr. Lim purchased Daring Commander for $10,000 at the 2005 Karaka Ready to Run Sale from Tuidale Lodge, and went to $20,000 (click here) to purchase his half-brother (by Drama Critic) from Durham Lodge at the 2008 Sale.

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Ready to Run Sale is set for 17 and 18 November at Karaka, with breeze-ups scheduled at Te Rapa Racecourse on 19 and 20 October. Entries for the sale close on Monday 24 August, contact [email protected] for entry forms.