Zirna Wins Singapore Gold Cup (Gr. 1)

New Zealand bred mare Zirna won the S$1.5 million Singapore Gold Cup on Sunday at Kranji taking her Group One tally to three. Zirna's win by one and three quarter lengths over the 2200m journey follows earlier victories in Singapore, including the Group One Raffles International Cup and the Singapore Derby Trial.

Zirna won the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock Breeder's Stakes at Te Aroha earlier this year, before travelling to Singapore to continue her racing.

Zirna (Deputy Governor x Riverly Lass) raced home to beat top weighted Moon Shadow and Laurie Laxon's promising four year old Dreyfuss. Moon Shadow was held up last start for a run when finishing fourth behind Zirna in the Raffles Cup. Dreyfuss is the winner of four from his only seven starts.

Zirna is trained in Singapore by champion trainer Malcolm Thwaites and was ridden by stable jockey Mark Du Plessis.

The Singapore Gold Cup, the third leg of the Singapore Triple Crown is run over the extended distance of 2200m making it the longest handicap feature on the Singapore racing calendar. The race is a unique event as it is open to all classes of horses and is run as a discretionary handicap with a top weight of 57kgs and a minimum weight of 50kgs.

Zirna was bred by Jim Campin and sold under the Chequers Stud banner at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2000 Premier Sale. Stephen Autridge of Hamilton purchased the bay mare for $40,000. Zirna is owned by Westbury Stud Ltd. and the Karaka Group Ltd. in New Zealand.

New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to offer three Deputy Governor's at the Ready to Run Sale on November 18th.