Aided by a top class ride by Opie Bosson, Race Ahead capped off an unforgettable weekend for Cloughmore Pedigrees with a courageous win in yesterday’s Singapore Derby.
The previous weekend had been one of frustration, with Galileo’s Galaxy recording another Group 1 second in the Clairwood Champions Cup and Tinseltown having no luck at all in the Caloundra Cup (LR).
However, this time luck went our way with Race Ahead (Al Akbar – Mertie Love by Spectacular Love) jumping well, taking a prominent position and being far too strong for his opposition down the long Kranji straight. The win was his ninth from 20 Singapore starts and took his prizemoney to over S$1.1 million.
Sunday’s Singapore win was certainly exciting but the previous day had also brought a real thrill. The Marton JC meeting at Awapuni is a long way from the prestige of one of Singapore’s major racing days, but Rising Tide’s victory in a 1600 maiden was also memorable. The Shinko King – Ballina Wave three year old barged through a narrow gap to win going away and marked another milestone for his dam in the process. Now retired from breeding, Ballina Wave has now achieved a 100% record with her male progeny, the star being Bodie, winner of the 2003 Auckland Cup. Bodie was bred by Kevin Mischefski as a Cloughmore recommended mating but Rising Tide is even closer to home, being the result of a breeding partnership put together by Cloughmore.
Whilst on the subject of Shinko King, his success as a sire is a timely reminder for New Zealand breeders of the strength of Japanese racing and breeding. I have been especially impressed by the credentials of the freshman sire, Roc de Cambes. A top class competitor in Japan, this son of Red Ransom distinguished himself in a career cut short by a racing accident by his ability to accelerate off a strong pace – something I always look for as a predictor of stallion success. He stands at The Oaks at a very reasonable $7000 +GST; this year’s group of first – season sires appears to be exceptionally promising but Roc de Cambes does seem to represent outstanding value.
