Spanish Bay Sets the Pace
20 April 2015
Karaka graduate Spanish Bay (Nadeem) experienced stakes success in Singapore on Friday, winning the Sgp-2 S$350,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m).
 |
Spanish Bay winner of the Sgp-2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic. |
Trained by Michael Freedman, Spanish Bay has now won four of his seven starts. He made his debut in September last year, as a three-year-old, winning over 1200m, followed by two second placings. His last start saw him run fourth in a Sgp-3 level race to rival Affleck (NZ) (Battle Paint).
“He did a good job,” said Freedman. “It was a good strong effort and he was able to beat Affleck who is considered the benchmark three-year-old here. It wasn’t totally surprising though because he has run some good races prior to that.
“The 1600(m) Guineas will be his next target.”
Spanish Bay hit the speed early as jockey Ismail Saifudin rode him from barrier seven, crossing over to find the rail and settle in the lead. Just one-length behind, Affleck kept close tabs on the pace maker and later came out wide on the corner to join Spanish Bay on the hunt for home.
Affleck dug deep to challenge Spanish Bay inside of 300m but the three-year-old Nadeem gelding was a touch too strong leaving Affleck to finish a neck behind in second place and Majestic Moments (NZ) (Darci Brahma) finished in third place.
Spanish Bay has earned a total of S$328,725 in prizemoney for his owners Horizon Stable.
The three-year-old gelding was purchased at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale for $85,000 by Michael Freedman and Michael Wallace Bloodstock from Little Avondale Stud.
Bred by Mr BF Hunt, the son of Nadeem is out of unraced mare Belle Jest (Rory’s Jester) who is a full-sister to the dam of stakes winner Battlefield (Choisir), winner of the Listed Ascot Handicap. Spanish Bay’s dam is also a half-sister to stakes winner Khaptivaan (Bletchingly), including winning the Group 2 Surround Stakes and Stimulus (Bletchingly), winner of the Listed Australian Airlines Flying Handicap.