SINGAPORE REPORT 2017
www.nztm.co.nz Singapore Report 2017
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Photo: Singapore Turf Club
Debt Collector (NZ) 2016 Singapore Horse of the year Photo: SGTC
Echoes of Heaven Photo: Trish Dunell
CONTENTS 2
Singapore Report 2017
Overview Page 4 NZ Bred Statistics Page 6 Racecourse Page 8 Upcoming Changes
Page 10 Race number reduction Page 11 Prizemoney adjustment Page 12 Reintroduction of international races Page 13
Optimism in Singapore
Page 14
New Zealand Exports Page 16 2016 Singapore Awards Page 18 Feature Races
Page 20 Merlion Trophy Page 21 Three-Year-Old Classic Page 22 Moonbeam Vase Page 23 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Page 24 Patron’s Bowl Page 25 Golden Horseshoe Page 26 Singapore Derby Page 27 Jumbo Jet Trophy Page 28 El Dorado Classic Page 29
2017 NZ Bred Stakes winners
Page 30
2016 NZ Bred Stakes winners
Page 31
Stallions
Page 32 Darci Brahma Page 34 Tavistock Page 35 Showcasing Page 36 Echoes of Heaven Page 37
Singapore Report 2017
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SINGA Photo: Singapore Turf Club
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Singapore is a great export market for New Zealand thoroughbreds. Last season they continued to be New Zealand’s second largest export market for thoroughbreds. New Zealand continues to thrive in this market, making up more than 40 per cent of the horse population. With five feature races to come this season, New Zealand breds have won 59 per cent of stakes races to date, with 50 per cent stakes
winners. This is up from last season when New Zealand-breds won 50 per cent of stakes races with 36.8 per cent individual stakes winners. Infantry (Tavistock) took out the most recent stakes race, the S$700,000 Kranji Mile, taking the New Zealand bred stakes wins tally this season to 13. He led home a New Zealand trifecta in the first leg of Singapore’s Triple Crown, beating
Singapore Report 2017
APORE a game Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) and 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park). Other notable New Zealand bred performers include Alibi (Darci Brahma), the winner of twolegs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, and Be Bee (Showcasing) Singapore’s dominant juvenile. In terms of earnings in 2016, they were up by S$1.5 million to nearly S$25 million, this
Singapore Report 2017
is despite a reduction in prizemoney from the previous season of nearly S$9million. Average earnings per runner were also at a five-year high, up more than S$4,000 from the 2015 season to S$43,310 and above the fiveyear average of S$41,564. Meanwhile, the number of New Zealand runners has continued to rise over the last five years, with a slight drop last year by 20 runners.
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Singapore Report 2017
Singapore’s racing season runs the calendar year, therefore 2017 figures in the above graphs are only reflective of the results to date this year.
Singapore Report 2017
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RACECOURSE Kranji is the only racecourse in Singapore and hosts two tracks, a turf track and polytrack. The turf track includes a long track (2000m long with a 550m straight) and a short track (1800m long with a 450m straight). The Polytrack all-weather track is 1500m long.
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Singapore Report 2017
Singapore Report 2017
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Photo: Singapore Turf Club
UPCOMING CHANGES 10
Singapore Report 2017
The Singapore Turf Club have recently announced three major changes that will affect the number of horses exported to the Island nation. These changes include a reduction in the number of races per season, adjusting the prizemoney levels and reintroducing international races. The first two changes will take effect from the start of the 2018 season, while the international races won’t be reintroduced until the 2019 season.
Race number reduction
The number of races will be reduced in the 2018 season to 800 races, down 100 from this season. “This optimal number of races was derived after weighing up the median number of runners per race versus a
projected horse pool of 1250 horses,” the club said in a statement. The club will also implement a one-off increase of five rating points for all horses. The club said this increase aims to boost the number of horses in the higher classes and reduce the number in Class 5. The increase in ratings will occur at the end of the 2017 season. The club has also proposed to cap race distances at 2000m. This will affect a number of feature races including: • Singapore Gold Cup – reduced from 2200m to 2000m • Emirates Singapore Derby – reduced from 2000m to 1800m • Raffles Cup – reduced from 1800m to 1600m • Chairman’s Trophy – reduced from 1800m to 1600m.
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Prizemoney adjustment
The second major change announced by the Singapore Turf Club is to adjust the prizemoney for several grades. What Singapore class as Group One and Group Two races, with the exception of the Golden Horseshoe, will receive an increase in funding and will carry prizemoney of S$1million and S$500,000 respectively. Restricted Maiden and Novice races will also receive a boost, increasing by S$10,000 to S$85,000. The club said this increase is aimed
Singapore Group
Feature Races in 2018
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at encouraging owners to invest more in young quality horses. Meanwhile lower class races will see a reduction in funding. Prizemoney in Class 5 will drop from S$35,000 to S$20,000, while Class 4 will be split into two – premier and nonpremier. The premier races will continue to carry a stake of S$60,000, whereas the non-premier races will reduce to S$45,000. These changes will take effect from 1 January 2018.
Present Prizemoney
New Prizemoney
1
Singapore Gold Cup
Δ
1
$1,350,000
$1,350,000
2
Emirates Singapore Derby
+
1
$1,150,000
$1,150,000
3
Lion City Cup
#
1
$800,000
$1,000,000
4
Singapore Guineas
ϕ
1
$500,000
$1,000,000
5
Kranji Mile
1
$700,000
$1,000,000
6
Raffles Cup
Δ
1
$700,000
$1,000,000
7
Patron's Bowl
+
1
$500,000
$1,000,000
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Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Δ
1
$500,000
$1,000,000
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Merlion Trophy
#
2
$350,000
$500,000
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Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic
ϕ
2
$350,000
$500,000
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EW Barker Trophy
2
$350,000
$500,000
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Stewards' Cup
2
$300,000
$500,000
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Chairman's Trophy
2
$300,000
$500,000
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Aushorse Golden Horseshoe
2
$325,000
$325,000
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Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint
3
$250,000
$250,000
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Saas Fee Stakes
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Garden City Trophy
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Rocket Man Sprint
3
$200,000
$200,000
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New Year Cup
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Jumbo Jet Trophy
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Fortune Bowl
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Committee's Prize
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Moonbeam Vase
3
$200,000
$200,000
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Colonial Chief Stakes
3
$175,000
$175,000
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El Dorado Classic
3
$150,000
$150,000
+
ϕ
#
# - Singapore Sprint Series | ϕ - Singapore 3-Year-Old Challenge | + - Singapore 4-Year-Old Challenge | Δ Singapore Triple Crown Series
Singapore Report 2017
Waikato Stud’s champion stallion O’Reilly (NZ), the sire of 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair (NZ) who will spell at Trelawney Stud for six months.
Reintroduction of international races
The final change the club has announced is their intention of reintroducing two international races to their racing calendar. These races will be run over 1200m and 1600m with prizemoney of S$1.35 million and S$3million respectively. They will be run on the third Sunday
Singapore Report 2017
of May, which is the same slot held by Singapore’s previous international races, the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint. The international races will make a return in 2019 with the club saying this will allow time for owners to invest in horses that will be competitive in each of those races.
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Mike Kneebone NZB Director of Business Development
OPTIMISM IN SINGAPORE 14
Singapore Report 2017
The racing industry in Singapore is in good heart according to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Director of Business Development Mike Kneebone. He knows the Southeast Asian racing jurisdiction well after spending more than 22 years working in the region, seven of those based in Singapore for New Zealand Bloodstock. “The current state of the industry is one of cautious optimism,” Kneebone said. “The stake money is still good and racing a horse has a number of benefits, on top of that they have a new chief executive (Mr Chong Boo Ching) who is all about listening to the industry participants and is prepared to make changes.” Now based in Sydney, Kneebone believes the recent changes announced by the Singapore Turf Club will only benefit racing in the Lion City, with the reintroduction of international races proving a popular decision. “The quality of the racing should improve for a start,” he said. “The Club will be recognised as part of the world racing circuit with international races coming back, giving the Club room to promote their product. This will in turn attract more people to the races. “Racing is an industry that needs changes to keep up with global sport and entertainment as a whole. It is imperative for clubs wanting to be seen as progressive to be showcased on the world stage, so the reintroduction of the international races had to happen.” With the increase in stakes for feature races and the culling of 100 races, mostly at Class 5 level, the quality of racing is set to improve. “Quality is what people want in any product so any changes that bring about more quality to an entertainment event must be good for the racing Industry.” Although there will be a significant reduction in the number of races at Kranji from next year, Kneebone doesn’t think this will dramatically affect New Zealand as a major export market. “It is easier to race horses in Singapore for owners than anywhere in Southeast Asia,” he said. “Expat owners and breeders make up a large proportion of the ownership in Singapore, there are no restrictions such as permits.
Singapore Report 2017
“Numbers need to stay the same because even if you take out class races per se, the class 5 horses will always be there and so replacements are a part of the equation. “I think numbers will stay the same but quality will improve over time.” Kneebone does not believe capping race distances to 2000m will affect the NZ bred horses racing in Singapore. “New Zealand bred horses have excelled in Asia for many years over all distances,” he said.
“The quality of the racing should improve for a start...” “The champion two-year-old in Singapore for example has been a Kiwi bred on many occasions. Likewise, sprinters from New Zealand have excelled in Asia due to the nature of the tracks and the environment. “I think the announcements are all positive.” Kneebone has done a lot of business in Singapore and believes there are some great benefits to racing in the Island nation. “I have successfully raced horses and sold hundreds into the market by auction and private treaty,” he said. “It is one of the few places in the world where you can win a race and your horse will be able to pay its way. “One track with no transport once they arrive is a huge plus and having everything at the one place is a huge benefit.” Although there are many benefits associated with racing in Singapore, Kneebone believes there is still plenty of room for improvement. “Racing in Singapore is not well marketed, it needs an injection of enthusiasm and a fresh approach to how it is perceived by the general public,” he said. “The government need to embrace it for what it provides in the way of entertainment and social responsibility.”
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EXPORTS 16
Singapore Report 2017
The 2016-17 season saw New Zealand exports to Singapore reduced to 177, well down on the five-year average of 215. The main factor affecting this was the significant drop in prizemoney between the 2015 and 2016 racing seasons of nearly S$9million. There was a reduction of 70 races in the year prior, with a further reduction of 16 races between the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Singapore Report 2017
A further reduction of 100 races next season will see this downward trend continue. Singapore trainers will be more selective with their imports given the reduction in the number of races as well as the stakes reduction in Class 4 and 5 races. However, there will be significant stakes increases in the feature races, which should see the quality of stock imported rise.
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Debt Collector (NZ) 2016 Singapore Horse of the year Photo: SGTC
NZ BREDS DOMINATE AWARDS 18
Singapore Report 2017
New Zealand-breds dominated the 2016 Singapore Racing Awards held at the Fullerton Hotel in January this year, picking up nine of the eleven gongs on offer. Debt Collector (NZ) picked up four awards, including the supreme award of 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year. The Thorn Park gelding was also crowned Champion Miler, Champion Three-Year-Old and was awarded Most Improved Horse and Social Media Horse of the Year. He had six victories last year, five at feature-level, including the first two legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic
Award winners
(1400m) and the Singapore Guineas (1600m). Debt Collector was also victorious in the $S200,000 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m), S$700,000 Kranji Mile and S$700,000 Raffles Cup (1800m). He was purchased out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale by Cambridge bloodstock agent Michael Wallace for NZ$30,000. He was then offered in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run sale later that year where he was secured by trainer Cliff Brown for NZ$120,000.
Horse of the Year, Champion 3-Year-Old, Champion Miler, Most Improved Horse & Social Media Horse of the Year Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park) Champion Older Horse Quechua (ARG) (Pure Prize) Champion Sprinter Zac Spirit (AUS) (Flying Spur)
Champion Stayer Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City)
Champion Polytrack Horse Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City)
Champion 4-Year-Old Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk)
Champion 2-year-old Lim’s Racer (NZ) (Red Giant)
Singapore Report 2017
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FEATURE RACES New Zealand-bred horses have been highly successful in many of Singapore’s feature races. They have won more stakes races than any other country in Singapore over the last four years. Furthermore, New Zealand breds have won more than 50 per cent of the time in nine feature races, including:
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Singapore Report 2017
MERLION TROPHY Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1200m Series: Singapore sprint Series Current Prizemoney: S$350,000 New Prizemoney: S$500,000 The Merlion Trophy is the first leg of the Singapore Sprint Series. It is a Weight For Age 1200m race held in early March. It will remain at the 1200m distance but will receive a S$150,000 boost in funding for next year’s event where horses will run for S$500,000. New Zealand horses have had a proud history in this race, winning it 52.9 per cent of the time in its 17-year history. Sky Filou entire Pacific Prince (NZ) won the inaugural race in 2001 and Tavistock (NZ) gelding Infantry (NZ) took out the latest edition of the race earlier this year. New Zealand breds have won eight of the last nine races, including the last five straight.
Singapore Report 2017
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THREE-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1400m Series: Singapore three-year-old Challenge Current Prizemoney: S$350,000 New Prizemoney: S$500,000 The Three-Year-Old Classic is the second leg of the Singapore three-year-old challenge, the only race at Singapore Group One or Two level on the polytrack all-weather surface. New Zealand bred horses have won the set weights race over 1400m 50 per cent of the time in its 16-year history. New Zealand breds have won four of the last six Three-Year-Old Classics, with talented Echoes of Heaven entire Countofmontecristo (NZ) backing up his Three-Year-Old sprint win with a victory in the Classic, taking out the first two legs of the Three-Year-Old Challenge.
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Singapore Report 2017
MOONBEAM VASE Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1800m Prizemoney: S$200,000
Tavistock (NZ) gelding Infantry (NZ) won the latest edition of the Moonbeam Vase over 1800m. The race is classed a Group Three in Singapore so will not receive a stakes boost next year and will remain at S$200,000. New Zealand breds have won the race 50 per cent of the time in its eight-year history, twice that of any other nation.
Singapore Report 2017
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QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP
Waikato (NZ) (Pins) Distance: 1800m Series: Singapore Triple Crown Series Current Prizemoney: S$500,000 New Prizemoney: S$1,000,000 The Queen Elizabeth II Cup has a long and rich history, spanning over 46 years. New Zealand breds have dominated the race since its inception in 1972 when Pavoluss (NZ), renamed Jumbo Jet, took out the race. Since then New Zealand breds have won 50 per cent of the races although they have had a dry run over the last five years. Pins gelding Waikato (NZ) was the last New Zealand bred to win the race, that was back in 2012. He was purchased by trainer Laurie Laxon out of Highview Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock 2005 Premier Yearling sale draft for NZ$50,000. The 1800m weight-for-age race will benefit from the club moving the Kranji Mile to May. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup will become a part of the Singapore Triple Crown, replacing the Kranji Mile and becoming the second leg of the series. It will also be one of the biggest beneficiaries from stakes increases. The 2017 running of the race will see its prizemoney double from S$500,000 to S$1million.
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Singapore Report 2017
PATRON’S BOWL Alibi (NZ) (Darci Brahma) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1400m Series: Four-Year-Old Challenge Current Prizemoney: S$500,000 New Prizemoney: S$1,000,000 New Zealand breds have been the biggest victors of the Patron’s Bowl, the second leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge. The set weights 1600m race has been won by Kiwi horses 65 per cent of the time, nearly three-times that of any other nation. Bocelli (NZ) won the inaugural race back in 2001 and Darci Brahma entire Alibi (NZ) won the 2017 running of the event, adding to his victory in the first leg of the series in the Stewards’ Cup. New Zealand breds have dominated the race in recent times, winning the race on the last five occasions. It is another race that will benefit massively from the stakes restructure. The 2017 running of the race will see its prizemoney double from S$500,000 to S$1million.
Singapore Report 2017
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GOLDEN HORSESHOE Be Bee (NZ) (Showcasing) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1200m Prizemoney: S$325,000 The 2017 running of the Golden Horseshoe was won by Showcasing gelding Be Bee (NZ), taking the winning percentage for New Zealand breds to 57 per cent. The set weight 1200m race will be one of only three Singapore classified Group One or Two-level races that will not receive an increase to its stake next season. Its S$325,000 prizemoney will have the lowest prizemoney at that level next year by S$175,000.
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Singapore Report 2017
SINGAPORE DERBY Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1800m Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge Prizemoney: S$1,150,000 New Zealand breds have a long and rich history in the Singapore Derby since the first running of the race in 1960 when Marksman (NZ) was victorious. Infantry (NZ) won the 2017 edition of the race, taking New Zealand breds tally in the race to 54.2 per cent of victories in the second oldest feature race in Singapore. Infantry’s victory gave New Zealand breds a clean sweep of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge for the second year in a row. Under the club’s changes for next season, the Derby will reduce in distance from 2000m to 1800m. Its prizemoney will remain unchanged at $1,150,000, however, it will still be the second richest race in Singapore next season.
Singapore Report 2017
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JUMBO JET TROPHY Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 1400m Prizemoney: S$200,000 Countofmontecristo’s (Echoes of Heaven) victory in this year’s edition of the Jumbo Jet Trophy takes New Zealand breds’ win tally in the race to ten, or 58.8 per cent. The weight-for-age race over 1400m has now been won by New Zealand breds for the third year in a row. The race is classified a Group Three race in Singapore, so it will remain unaffected by the changes announced by the Club.
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Singapore Report 2017
EL DORADO CLASSIC Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City) Photo: SGTC
Distance: 2200m Prizemoney: S$150,000 The El Dorado Classic has only been in existence for two years, but Bahana’s (NZ) victory in last year’s race increased New Zealand’s strike rate to 50 per cent.
Singapore Report 2017
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NZ Bred Stakes winners this season (to October 12, 2017) Race
Distance Horse
Sire
NZB Sale
Price
New Year Cup
1900m
Guru-Guru (NZ)
Faltaat
2013 May
NZ$8,000
Merlion Trophy
1200m
Infantry (NZ)
Tavistock
2013 May
NZ$7,000
3YO Sprint
1200m
Countofmontecristo (NZ)
Echoes of Heaven
2015 RTR
NZ$57,500
3YO Classic
1400m
Countofmontecristo (NZ)
Echoes of Heaven
2015 RTR
NZ$57,500
Moonbeam Vase
1800m
Infantry (NZ)
Tavistock
2013 May
NZ$7,000
Saas Fee Stakes
1400m
War Affair (NZ)
O’Reilly
2012 Premier YS
NZ$70,000
Stewards’ Cup
1400m
Alibi (NZ)
Darci Brahma
2014 RTR
NZ$90,000
Patron’s Bowl
1600m
Alibi (NZ)
Darci Brahma
2014 RTR
NZ$90,000
Golden Horseshoe
1200m
Be Bee (NZ)
Showcasing 2016 Select YS
NZ$220,000
2016 RTR
NZ$250,000
2013 May
NZ$7,000
Singapore Derby
2000m
Infantry (NZ)
Tavistock
Juvenile Championship
1400m
Mr Hanks (NZ)
Showcasing 2016 Festival YS
NZ$21,000
Jumbo Jet Trophy
1400m
Countofmontecristo (NZ)
Echoes of Heaven
2015 RTR
NZ$57,500
Kranji Mile
1600m
Infantry (NZ)
Tavistock
2013 May
NZ$7,000
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Singapore Report 2017
2016 NZ Bred Stakes winners Race
Distance Horse
Sire
NZB Sale
Price
Merlion Trophy
1200m
Spalato (NZ)
Elusive City
N/A
N/A
3YO Classic
1400m
Debt Collector (NZ)
Thorn Park
2014 Select YS
NZ$30,000
2014 RTR
NZ$120,000
Singapore Guineas
Stewards’ Cup Patron’s Bowl
1600m
1400m 1600m
Debt Collector (NZ) Titanium (NZ) Well Done (NZ)
Thorn Park
Tavistock Falkirk
2014 Select YS NZ$30,000 2014 RTR
NZ$120,000
2013 Select
NZ$10,000
2013 RTR
NZ$47,500
2013 Select YS
PSD NZ$27,500
2013 RTR
NZ$90,000 N/A
Golden Horseshoe
1200m
Lim’s Racer (NZ)
Red Giant
N/A
Singapore Derby
2000m
Well Done (NZ)
Falkirk
2013 Select YS PSD NZ$27,500
Jumbo Jet Trophy
Kranji Mile
El Dorado Classic
Raffles Cup
Gold Cup
Colonial Chief Stakes
Singapore Report 2017
1400m
1600m
2200m
1800m
2200m
1700m
Debt Collector (NZ) Debt Collector (NZ) Bahana (NZ)
Debt Collector (NZ) Bahana (NZ)
Daniel (NZ)
Thorn Park
Thorn Park
Elusive City
Thorn Park
Elusive City
Guillotine
2013 RTR
NZ$90,000
2014 Select YS
NZ$30,000
2014 RTR
NZ$120,000
2014 Select YS
NZ$30,000
2014 RTR
NZ$120,000
2013 Select YS
NZ$80,000
2013 RTR
NZ$100,000
2014 Select YS
NZ$30,000
2014 RTR
NZ$120,000
2013 Select YS
NZ$80,000
2013 RTR
NZ$100,000
N/A
N/A
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Darci Brahma – Singapore’s leading sire.
STALLIONS New Zealand stallions dominate the Singapore market, making up eight of the top ten stallions in the racing jurisdiction last season. They are continuing that run this year with four stallions currently sitting in the top five on the sires table.
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Singapore Report 2017
2017 Singapore Sires Table Rank Stallion Ccode Yof - To Stud
Breeding
Rnrs
Wnrs Wins
SW SWins)
Earnings
1
Darci Brahma (NZ) 2002 - 2007
Danehill - Grand Echezeaux
34
18
29
1(2)
S$2,133,896 Alibi S$693,900
2
Tavistock (NZ) 2005 - 2010
Montjeu - Upstage 8
4
9
1(4)
S$1,697,442 Infantry S$1,375,193
3
Showcasing (GB) 2007 - 2011
Oasis Dream Arabesque
26
18
29
2(2)
S$1,599,733 Be Bee - S$219,037
4
Casino Prince (AUS) 2003 - 2008
Flying Spur Lady Capel
10
6
9
1(2)
S$960,071
Lim's Cruiser S$616,737
5
Echoes of Heaven (AUS) 2007 - 2012
Encosta de Lago Shantha's Choice
2
1
7
1(3)
S$754,837
Countofmontecristo S$754,837
6
O'Reilly (NZ) 1993 - 1997
Last Tycoon Courtza
21
10
11
1(1)
S$745,975
War Affair S$129,050
7
Alamosa (NZ) 2004 - 2009
O'Reilly - Lodore Mystic
28
11
17
0(0)
S$703,607
Mr Crowe S$133,983
8
Orpen (USA) 1996 - 2000
Lure - Bonita Francita
8
4
6
2(2)
S$683,673
Storm Troops S$400,837
9
Savabeel (AUS) 2001 - 2005
Zabeel - Savannah 9 Success
6
13
0(0)
S$621,001
Preditor - S$172,450
Singapore Report 2017
Best Performer
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DARCI BRAHMA (NZ)
(DANEHILL – GRAND ECHEZEAUX)
Photo: Trish Dunell The Oaks Stud stallion Darci Brahma continues to lead the charge, currently sitting atop the sires table, a title he has won for four of the last five seasons. He was represented this year by Alibi (NZ), the winner of two legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the S$300,000 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) and S$500,000 Patron’s Bowl (1600m). Bred by Vicki and Terry Pascoe, Alibi was purchased out of Esker Lodge’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run sale draft by trainer Michael Clements for NZ$90,000. In the seven seasons Darci Brahma’s progeny have been racing in Singapore he has established a strike rate of 73.3 per cent winners to runners and more than NZ$12 million in prizemoney. His standout performer over that time has been
dual Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy, who now stands at Hallmark Stud in Te Kauwhata for NZ$7,500+gst. He won nine stakes races during his time in Singapore, including winning their three-year-old triple crown in 2012. Bought by Te Akau Principal David Ellis for NZ$1.1 million at the 2004 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Darci Brahma won ten of his 19 starts for trainer Mark Walker, including five Group One races. He went on to be crowned champion New Zealand two and three-year-old as well as champion New Zealand Sprinter. Darci Brahma stands at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge for NZ$15,000+gst.
Year
Rank Rnrs
Wnrs Wins SW(SWins)
Earnings
Best Performer
2017
1
34
18
29
1(2)
S$2,133,896
Alibi – S$693,900
2016
1
43
16
29
0(0)
S$2,130,037
Majestic Moments – S$607,944
2015
1
38
23
37
0(0)
S$2,094,275
Majestic Moments S$258,705
2014
3
37
19
30
1(1)
S$1,719,560
Goliath - S$215,422
2013
1
30
16
30
1(2)
S$2,128,191
Super Easy - S$675,012
2012
1
16
7
22
1(6)
S$1,823,900
Super Easy - S$1,063,687
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Singapore Report 2017
TAVISTOCK (NZ) (MONTJEU – UPSTAGE)
Photo: Trish Dunell Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock is another sire kicking goals in Singapore. He currently sits second on the Singapore sires table and was represented well this year by Infantry (NZ). He gave his sire his fourth Derby winner after winning the S$1.15 million Singapore Derby (2000m) earlier this year, joining Tavago (NZ) (Gr.1 Australian Derby) Tarzino (NZ) (Gr.1 Victoria Derby) and Werther (NZ) (Gr.2 Hong Kong Derby). In doing so, he ended the hopes of fellow New Zealand-bred Alibi of becoming the first horse to win all three legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old challenge. Infantry was previously runner-up in the Stewards’ Cup (1400m) and third in the Patron’s Bowl (1600m) behind the Michael Clementstrained runner. He became the sixth New Zealand-bred horse to win the Singapore Derby in the last eight years. He recently won the the S$700,000 Kranji Mile, the opening leg of Singapore’s Triple Crown. He led home a New Zealand bred trifecta, beating a game Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) and 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park). Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of
Cambridge Stud, Infantry was sold for NZ$7000 as a weanling at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock weanling, broodmare and mixed bloodstock sale. It is a sale that has proven to show plenty of value, with fellow Derby winner Gingernuts selling for NZ$5000 in 2014 and Infantry’s own dam The Nightingale selling in-foal to Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy for NZ$500 in 2015. Infantry was later purchased out of Darrel Lang’s stable by Cambridge bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for Singapore clients after impressing when trialling as a two-year-old. Tavistock’s progeny have been racing in Singapore for the last four seasons and he has a strike rate of 70 per cent winners to runners and more than NZ$2.6 million in prizemoney. As well as Infantry, Tavistock has also been represented by fellow stakes winner Titanium who won the Stewards’ Cup. Titanium is another New Zealand Bloodstock sales graduate, selling for NZ$10,000 in the 2013 Select Sale and NZ$47,500 in the Ready to Run sale later that year. Tavistock stands at Cambridge Stud for a service fee of NZ$65,000 + gst.
Year
Rank Rnrs
Wnrs Wins SW(SWins)
Earnings
Best Performer
2017
2
8
4
9
1(4)
S$1,697,442
Infantry – S$1,375,193
2016
6
7
6
14
1(1)
S$923,768
Infantry - S$361,090
2015
63
6
2
4
0(0)
S$290,573
Titanium – S$174,690
Singapore Report 2017
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SHOWCASING(GB) (OASIS DREAM – ARABESQUE)
Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Showcasing has a remarkable strike-rate in Singapore and is chasing at the heels of Darci Brahma and Tavistock. He currently has the same number of winners as Darci Brahma with fewer runners, but sits third on the stallion table. He has shown his ability to leave precocious types, with both of his stakes victories in Singapore this season coming in their two feature juvenile races. Be Bee (NZ) won the S$325,000 Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m), while Mr Hanks (NZ) was victorious in the S$200,000 Juvenile Championship (1400m).
Mr Hanks was purchased at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Sale for NZ$21,000, while Be Bee was sold at the Select Sale for NZ$220,000 and was then placed in the Ready to Run sale where Singapore trainer Shane Baertschiger went to NZ$250,000 to secure the gelding. They contributed to Showcasing’s outstanding strike rate of 81.5 per cent winners to runners in Singapore with more than NZ$2.6 million in prizemoney. Showcasing shuttles to Haunui Farm’s Karaka property where he stands for a service fee of NZ$12,000+gst.
Year
Rank Rnrs
Wnrs Wins SW(SWins)
Earnings
Best Performer
2017
3
26
18
29
2(2)
S$1,599,733
Be Bee - S$219,037
2016
5
19
11
18
0(0)
S$960,785
Casing Royal – S$139,635
2015
81
6
3
4
0(0)
S$216,918
Casing Royal – S$73,923
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Singapore Report 2017
ECHOES OF HEAVEN (AUS)
(ENCOSTA DE LAGO – SHANTHA’S CHOICE)
Photo: Trish Dunell
Echoes of Heaven has stormed onto the Singapore sire scene this season thanks to the deeds of his standout son Countofmontecristo (NZ). The multiple Singapore feature race winner has catapulted the Linwood Park stallion into the top five of Singapore’s sires table, edging out champion stallion O’Reilly. Countofmontecristo dominated the threeyear-old ranks in Singapore this season, winning the first two legs of Singapore’s Three-Year-Old Challenge, the S$250,000 Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and S$350,000 Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), and placed third in the S$500,000 Singapore Guineas (1600m).
He has continued that good run of form as a four-year-old, adding the S$200,000 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) to his tally and running a brave second to Infantry in the S$700,000 Kranji Mile. From Echoes of Heaven’s first crop, Countofmontecristo was purchased by Brendon McCullum’s Vermair Racing at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2015 Ready to Run sale for NZ$57,500. He was placed in both of his trials in New Zealand for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards before being sold to Singapore. Echoes of Heaven stands at Linwood Park in Cambridge for NZ$6,000+gst.
Year
Rank Rnrs
Wnrs Wins SW(SWins)
Earnings
Best Performer
2017
5
1
S$754,837
Countofmontecristo – S$754,837
Singapore Report 2017
2
7
1(3)
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Singapore Report 2017