Special Retirement Ceremony for Fairy King Prawn
- Monday, 24 February 2003 00:00
The racing career of Fairy King Prawn may only have lasted three and a half years, but he symbolised the emergence of Hong Kong horses in a world context, giving Hong Kong people a great deal of excitement and wonderful times, especially when he won in Yasuda Kinen in Japan on June 4, 2000.
"In many ways, he helped put Hong Kong racing on the map internationally and give it the exposure that it today receives," said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director, Racing, of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Trainer Ivan Allan said that Fairy King Prawn would always rate very highly among the best horses in Hong Kong racing history. "The fans will remember him as one of the stars. River Verdon was a star, he didn't succeed overseas - but he was a star. I think Fairy King Prawn was the next star we've had in Hong Kong," Allan said.
Fairy King Prawn was voted Most Popular Horse of the Year in
the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Champion Awards in 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.
The seven-year-old gelding's owner, Philip Lau Sak-hong, said:
"He had an exceptional career but for me the highlight was definitely in Japan when
he won the Yasuda Kinen. And he proved again he was Hong Kong's champion when blitzing his
rivals in the National Day Cup on his final run. He could have raced again but with the
very high level competition that he was used to, we didn't want to take a chance with him.
He is a champion horse and that's how we want to remember him."
Mr. Lau has retired Fairy King Prawn to the Hong Kong Jockey
Club Tuen Mun Riding School to become part of Hong Kong racing's Hall of Fame.
Fairy King Prawn
Factsheet
Major achievements:-
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Fairy King Prawn was the first locally trained winner of a major race overseas, the Japan Group One Yasuda Kinen. |
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He remains the only Hong Kong horse to achieve champion status in the International Classifications. With an international rating of 119, he was the joint-highest rated older sprinter on turf in 2001. He also achieved the highest International Classification rating of 122 for a Hong Kong-trained horse in the 2000 and 2001 International Classifications. |
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Crowned Horse of the Year twice (1999/2000 and 2000/2001). |
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Voted Most Popular Horse of the Year in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards in 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. |
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Champion Sprinter in the 1998/1999 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards. |
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Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler in the 1999/2000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards. |
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Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler in the 2000/2001 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards. |
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Winner of the inaugural Hong Kong Sprint in 1999. |
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Holder of two course records: |
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Happy Valley |
1200M |
1.09.3 |
11/10/2000 |
(Joint-Course Record) |
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Sha Tin |
1400M |
1.21.3 |
01/10/2001 |
(The National Day Cup, his last race) |
Record/Stakes:-
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Brand No. /Colour/Sex/Age |
: |
P337 / Bay / Gelding / 7 |
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Breeding |
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Danehill (USA) Twiglet (AUS) by Twig Moss (FR) |
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DOB/Origin |
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13 Oct 1995/Australia |
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Date of import/Import category |
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27 Aug 1997/PPG |
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Date of first race/Position |
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28 Mar 1998/Winner |
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Date of retirement |
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14 Feb 2003 |
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Owners |
: |
Mr. And Mrs. Philip Lau Sak-hong |
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Trainer |
: |
Ricky P F Yiu (27 Aug 1997 - 21 Mar 2000) Ivan W Allan (22 Mar 2000 14 Feb 2003) |
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Race Record |
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26 starts (including 3 starts overseas) 12 wins, 10 seconds and 0 third (including 1 win and 1 second overseas.) |
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Total Earnings |
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HK$37,695,967 (approx. US$4,840,000) Including HK$26,797,587 (HK stakes), HK$800,000 (Consolation prize for winning two out of three legs of The Champion Sprint Series in 2000/2001 season) and approx. HK$10,098,380 (Overseas stakes). |
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Winning Distances |
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3 1000M Sha Tin 4 1200M Sha Tin 1 1200M Happy Valley 2 1400M Sha Tin 1 1600M Sha Tin 1 1600M Tokyo, Japan |
Important Victories Include:-
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(1) |
Yasuda Kinen |
(JP G1 - 1600M) |
04/06/2000 |
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(2) |
The Hong Kong Sprint |
(L - 1000M) |
12/12/1999 |
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(3) |
The Stewards' Cup |
(HK G1 - 1600M) |
14/01/2001 |
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(4) |
The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy |
(HK G1 - 1000M) |
26/01/2001 |
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(5) |
The Chairman's Sprint Prize |
(HK G1 - 1200M) |
22/04/2001 |
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(6) |
The Chairman's Prize |
(HK G1 - 1200M) |
08/05/1999 |
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(7) |
The Happy Valley Trophy |
(HK G3 - 1200M) |
11/10/2000 |
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(8) |
The National Day Cup |
(Premier Class 1400M) |
01/10/2001 |
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(9) |
The TVB Cup |
(Class One 1200M) |
27/02/1999 |
Important Placings (Runner-up) Include:-
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(1) |
The Hong Kong Mile |
(G1 - 1600M) |
17/12/2000 |
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(2) |
Dubai Duty Free |
(G2 - 1777M) |
24/03/2001 |
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(3) |
The Chairman's Prize |
(HK G1 1200M) |
07/05/2000 |
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(4) |
The Sha Tin Vase |
(HK G2 1600M) |
23/05/1999 |
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(5) |
The Centenary Cup |
(HK G2 1000M) |
11/03/2000 |
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(6) |
The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy |
(HK G3 1000M) |
15/01/2000 |
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(7) |
The Sprint Trial Trophy |
(Premier Class - 1000M) |
26/11/2000 |
Media Release - HKJC
Olympic Express Strikes Gold at Sha Tin
- Monday, 24 February 2003 00:00
In a pulsating
climax, Olympic Express defeated Dr More by a neck, with a neck further back to Elegant
Fashion in third.
Owned by Hong
Kong Jockey Club steward Larry Yung, the winner's bankroll has now scaled to a stunning
HK$31.1 million (approx. US$4 million) after his fourth Group 1 triumph from 11 starts.
Before
annexing today's race, Olympic Express had taken the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong
Derby and Hong Kong Mile - and few would bet against the five-year-old son of Bishop Of
Cashel adding to the haul in the near future, which, according to trainer Ivan Allan, is
scheduled to include cracks at the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (Gr.1-2000m), and the
Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m), the second and third legs of the World
Series Racing Championship.
Allan,
enjoying his second Group 1 winner in successive weekends after Self Flit's Hong Kong
Classic Mile success last Sunday, later put Olympic Express' achievements in context.
"He has
done very, very well to win today after an interrupted preparation. He had a temperature
last week, he was off his feed for two days and two nights and he had to miss a gallop.
But he's such a good horse with a tremendous will to win and he always gives his
best."
Ridden today
by Eric Saint-Martin, deputising for suspended regular pilot Weichong Marwing, Olympic
Express, sent off at 5/1, was settled outside runners in midfield before throwing down his
challenge at the top of the home straight. He wrested the lead from a tiring Housemaster
at the 100 metres and just resisted a never-say-die bid from Dr More, with Elegant
Fashion, advertising significant claims for next month's Hong Kong Derby, doing her best
work at the finish.
Housemaster, also representing the Allan/Yung combination, finished fourth and will also be entered for the big race in Singapore on May 17, Allan said.
On the same
card, the pain of Dr More's defeat was eased for trainer John Size and jockey Shane Dye,
as the remarkable Century Star story reached new heights as the six-year-old edged out
Anabatik to claim the HK$2 million (approx. US$256,000)
Silver Lining Handicap (Premier Class-1200m). Century Star was winless from 25 outings
prior to making his debut for trainer John Size on
March 30 last year. Since then, the Exit To Nowhere gelding has won eight
times from 11 starts accumulating HK$5.83 million (approx. US$746,000) for owner Yip
Kwok-wai and his most recent two wins have arrived in Premier Class fields.
Media Release - HKJC
Elegant Fashion Among Feature Mile Entries
- Monday, 10 February 2003 00:00
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's policy of encouraging owners to import the best available horses to race in Hong Kong is prospering and an unprecedented 32 entries were initially received for the HK$8 million (approx.US$1 million) Hong Kong Classic Mile (HKGr.1-1600m) on February 16 at Sha Tin.
This number, including 13 horses that had won or placed in Stakes Races internationally, has been whittled down to just 14 horses with priority to run along with five reserves.
An additional terms race for four-year-olds over 1600m has been added to the same card to aid the Derby preparation for the 18 horses not selected for the Classic Mile.
A juvenile winner in Ireland, Bowman's Crossing heads the ratings having won his last two races in Hong Kong, including a Premier Class event.
Other prominent contenders include Elegant Fashion, a triple Gr.2 winner in Australia, the runner-up in the Gr.1 AJC Australian Oaks, and recently the winner of her first start in Hong Kong.
The rapidly improving Dynamic Fun, a graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale and trained by John Size, is bidding to make it five wins from as many starts.
Kiddyland, placed in Gr.3 company in France when he raced as Keramani, ought to be competitive, as should Gift, formerly Danavon in New Zealand, runner-up to Bowman's Crossing this season.
The formerly Irish-trained quartet of Jazz Beat (Gr.1 placed in America), Beverly Green (formerly Masani, the winner of the Irish Cambridgeshire), River Dancer (formerly Diaghilev, a Gr.3 winner in France) and Surveyor (formerly Ahsanabad, twice placed in Gr.3 races) are other notable candidates.
Hong Kong Classic Mile | |||
Horse Name |
Former Name |
Horse No |
Trainer |
BEVERLY GREEN | Masani (IRE) | C192 | D A Hayes |
BOWMAN'S CROSSING | Bowmans Crossing (IRE) | B138 | D Oughton |
DYNAMIC FUN | B281 | J Size | |
ELEGANT FASHION | Elegant Fashion (AUS) | C190 | D A Hayes |
FANTASY | London Eye (AUS) | B187 | K W Lui |
GIFT | Danavon (NZ) | B246 | J Size |
GOLDEN YEARS | Mount Camelback (AUS) | B010 | I W Allan |
HO CHOI | Ho Choi (GB) | C187 | I W Allan |
JAZZ BEAT | Jazz Beat (IRE) | C172 | L Fownes |
KIDDYLAND | Keramani (FR) | C063 | S Woods |
RIVER DANCER | Diaghilev (IRE) | C109 | J Size |
SELF FLIT | B322 | I W Allan | |
SURVEYOR | Ahsanabad (IRE) | C159 | J Moore |
VICTORY WARRIOR | Diamond Spy (AUS) | A338 | B K Ng |
Reserves | |||
SUPREME RABBIT | Solid Approach (IRE) | C173 | A S Cruz |
SUPER BLITZ | Superblitz (AUS) | B120 | D Cruz |
SERIOUS PLAY | Serious Play (IRE) | C003 | L Ho |
EQUATOR KID | Lord Mason (AUS) | C134 | D A Hayes |
HIMALAYA | Welenska (GB) | C004 | L Fownes |
Media Release - HKJC
Walker to Join Prebble in Hong Kong
- Saturday, 15 February 2003 00:00
The Taranaki teenager leaves to take up his three-month contract
in a month's time.
Walker is believed to be the first apprentice jockey to ride on
contract in the former colony.
Melbourne jockey Brett Prebble has also gained a three-month Hong Kong contract. Shane Dye, a former star New Zealand apprentice and more recently a high profile Sydney jockey, is currently second on the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership.
Media Release - TNZ
McEvoy a Winner in Dubai
- Friday, 07 February 2003 00:00
McEvoy's arrival in the Emirates came through his success in the Emirates Challenge, a competition held between jockeys in the UAE and Australia over the two meetings that made up the One Event Two Racemeetings Alliance between the Dubai Racing Club and Melbourne Racing Club last year.
McEvoy's four winners on Dubai Day at Caulfield secured him his ticket to Dubai and allowed him to renew his association with Godolphin, whom he rode Beekeeper for in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups last Spring.
Media Release - TNZ
Six Month Singapore Extension for Cassidy
- Friday, 14 February 2003 00:00
The Singapore Turf Club has extended visiting jockey Larry Cassidys local permit for another six months starting from 17 February 2003.
Thirty-two-year-old New Zealander Cassidy started riding here last April and booted home many winners, including a couple of hat-tricks. Last year, he guided SMART BET to win the Emirates Singapore Derby and had a total of 40 winners.
Media Release - Singapore Turf Club
Leading International Names Partner Dubai World Cup
- Wednesday, 05 February 2003 00:00
This year is no exception with 22 prestigious partners for the world's richest racemeeting, 20 of which continue their association with the Dubai World Cup.
EMIRATES AIRLINE, award-winning title sponsor of the US$6,000,000 Group I Dubai World Cup, continues their valuable title sponsorship and on racenight Emirates' associates SKYWARDS will again raffle One Million Skywards Miles' in aid of Riding for the Disabled, while AL MAHA will co-sponsor the increasingly popular"Jaguar to Al Maha" Fashions on the field, for which prizes valued at US$50,000 are available.
DUBAI DUTY FREE retain sponsorship of the US$2,000,000 Group I Dubai Duty Free and their presence on the race night is heightened by the raffle of a Bentley Arnage R, "The Dubai World Cup Finest Surprise" for which 1,800 tickets will be raffled at Dhs500 each.
PORTS, CUSTOMS & FREEZONE CORPORATION recently announced an ambitious Dhs 4.2 billion expansion to the Jebel Ali Port which will be built in four phases for completion in 2020, and will add 30km to Dubai¹s coastline, continue their sponsorship of the US$2,000,000 Group I Dubai Sheema Classic.
GULF NEWS, Official English Newspaper since the inauguration of the event continue sponsorship of the US$2,000,000 Group I Dubai Golden Shaheen and again publish the Official Magazine for the Dubai World Cup.
The recently re-named JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA, Official Caterer to the Dubai World Cup, again sponsor the US$1,000,000 Group II Godolphin Mile. Their catering services this year extend to the Arabian Nights Extravaganza, the established Al Dana marquee and, for the first time, the prestigious Corporate Chalets.
EMAAR continues its presence at the Dubai World Cup for 2003, again being the sponsor of the US$250,000 Group I Dubai Kahayla Classic, the world¹s richest race for Purebred Arabians.
"A major part of the success of any event is the support it receives from its sponsors and we are confident that through an impressive number of sponsors this year that the 2002 Dubai World Cup meeting will be the best ever run," said Dubai World Cup Committee Chairman, Les Benton.
"We are extremely to have names that are synonymous with quality continue their partnership with us while we welcome two new names to the event whom we will strive to establish a successful and long term relationship," said Nancy Petch, Dubai Co-Ordination.
The Official Supporter level of sponsorship has been awarded again to three repeat sponsors. african + eastern is again Official Beverage Supplier for all events and functions. BUDGET Rent-A Car, Official Transportation will provide, and co-ordinate a fleet of vehicles to meet the extensive Dubai World Cup requirements in close co-operation with JAGUAR, Official Car for the second consecutive year, will provide the use of 30 S-TYPE vehicles and who will raffle a 2003 model on the racenight.
The popular Official Supporter sponsorship category has this year attracted 13 sponsors, including two new names for 2003, MERCIER GRAY DOBBIE and NAD AL SHEBA CLUB.
AL BAYAN will again be the Official Arabic Newspaper and they are joined by AL FARDAN ARTS & JEWELLERY FACTORY (Official Jeweller), CIRCLE EXHIBITION SERVICES (Official Signage Company), GEARHOUSE Dubai (Official Production Company), HIGHLAND SPRING (Official Mineral Water), HITACHI (Official Television and Video), MERCIER GRAY DOBBIE (Official Design Company), NAD AL SHEBA CLUB (Official Merchandiser), PEPSI (Official Soft Drink), TNT (Official Courier), TATTERSALLS (Sponsor Best Turned Out), WEATHERBYS (Official Sponsor Breakfast With The Stars) while the DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & COMMERCE MARKETING (Official Press Sponsor) will, for the first time, will host a Heritage Village to portray local culture within the International Village.
"We welcome back all of our established partners, those that have been with us through the rapid rise of the event and also those new for 2002. We appreciate their support and hope this new partnership forms a long and successful association," said Mr Benton.
Media Release - Martin Talty (ERA)
Adelaide's Holland Wins Malaysian Feature
- Wednesday, 12 February 2003 00:00
Holland had only just arrived in Malaysia and had already ridden two winners before winning the 1200 metre feature on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
The race carried a purse of 500,000 ringgit, the equivalent of an impressive AUS$222,808.
A son of Kashani, Xtherest had been freshened since his last start win in the 2200 metre Negeri Gold Cup.
On the line Xtherest proved too strong for his classy rivals winning by three parts of a length.
Size and Dye Clean Sweep Sha Tin Features
- Tuesday, 04 February 2003 00:00
Grand Delight upstaged better-fancied rivals to claim the first leg of the Champion Sprint Series, the HK$4.5 million Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Gr.1-1000m) from Firebolt and All Thrills Too, who had finished one-two in the December's Hong Kong Sprint.
Later on, Size and Dye combined to win the HK$2.3 million Centenary Vase (HKGr.3-2000m) with Dr More. Earlier in the day, Century Star had got the ball rolling by taking out the HK$2 million Chinese New Year Cup (Premier Class-1400m) by half a length from Raider. Over the past 12 months, Century Star has proved a tremendous advert for the training abilities of Size, who has campaigned him to win seven from ten starts.
The pair wrapped up the final event of the day when Hong Kong Derby hopeful Dynamic Fun got the better of Visorhill in a rousing climax to the day's events.
The day's highlight event, however, went to Grand Delight, a Gr.1 winner over a mile on his last start in his native Australia before being sold to race in Hong Kong. His first ten starts in Hong Kong were over seven furlongs or a mile, but last month Size dropped Grand Delight back in trip to six furlongs and comfortably claimed the HKGr.3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup from top weight.
Yesterday, the task was stiffer again, dropping further back to the minimum trip and tackling the very best at set weights. Sent off at over 11/1, Grand Delight overcame being inconvenienced upon leaving the gates as Firebolt set a strong early pace with All Thrills Too, Charming City and Speed Lord and Thunder close up. Firebolt was still in front 200 metres from home, but, two lengths further back, Grand Delight was only reaching top gear and he tore to the lead with 50 metres and pull clear by a length at the line to Firebolt, who finished a head in front of All Thrills Too.
Formerly Hong Kong's Champion Jockey and Champion Trainer, Tony Cruz prepared a four-timer of wins with Lucky Paradise, East Ocean Dragon, Super Brose and Medic Corps to move into second place in the Trainers' Premiership, 14 behind Size.
Reigning Champion Jockey Douglas Whyte rode three winners, and holds a three-winner break from Dye at the top of the Jockeys' Premiership.
Media Release - HKJC
Smart Bet the One to Beat in Singapore Feature
- Wednesday, 12 February 2003 00:00
The fourth running of the Singapore Group 3 Chairmans Trophy scheduled for Sunday, 16 February 2003 attracted 10 smart entries. With several topnotch gallopers entered, the $150,000 weight-for-age feature will act as a prelude to the $1 million International Group 3 Singapore Classic on 7 March 2003.
Although BOCELLI, the highest-rated of the lot, takes pride of place, SMART BET, trained by Mohd Yusof and recently crowned Horse of the Year for 2002 should be the one to beat.
The Patrick Busuttin-trained BOCELLI, a champion Four-Year-Old in 2001, has not been successful last season. In contrast, SMART BET won three feature races last year and won this feature in 2001. The five-year-old Australian gelding is fresh from a three-month rest after winning the $1.25 million Singapore Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup last November.
Champion trainer Malcolm Thwaites MARCO BOY is one to watch. The five-year-old Australian gelding finished a narrow second to THUNDERAWAY over 1,800m last week.
THUNDERAWAY, trainer Laurie Laxons only entry is back in form. The New Zealand-breds recent victory in the Open benchmark 97 race displayed his finishing burst which saw him win two other earlier races over 1,649m and 1,800m.
Now that trainer Charles Lecks KASH IS KING has come to hand, the New Zealand gelding can give his more illustrious rivals a good fight. The six-year-old overcame THUNDERAWAY, BOCELLI and the rest of Class 1 field over 1,800m on 26 January 2003.
The Don Baertschiger-trained MOON SHADOW, who finished a close fifth to STORM RACER in the E W Barker Memorial Trophy over 1,400m, can upset the form book. Prior to that run, the five-year-old Australian horse romped home an easy winner over 1,200m. His seven other victories ranging from 1,200m to 1,600m were very impressive wins.
Other entries with their respective trainers are: KING OF TARA & TYTOLA (Patrick Shaw); YAMAKAWI (Douglas Dragon) and LEAD TO VICTORY (Charles Read).
Inaugurated in 2000, the Chairmans Trophy was won by OUZO. Last years race was won by the Laurie Laxon-trained HOEBERG. Taken out by visiting rider Johnny Geroudis, the New Zealand mare captured the 1,800m feature in a swift 1 min 49.4 sec.
Media Release - Singapore Turf Club
Caddy Cops Six Month Suspension in Malaysia
- Monday, 03 February 2003 00:00
Now based in Kuala Lumpur with ex-pat Aussie John Nikolic, the brother of leading Melbourne rider Danny, Caddy was found guilty of dropping his hands and not taking all reasonable chance to win an event on Saturday.
Stewards outed the rider for his handling of the kiwi bred in form performer Disco Master in the Class Two event over 1400 metres. Inglenook was able to grab Disco Master in the final few strides to win by a head.
According to the stewards' report Caddy "pleaded guilty to a charge of negligence under MRA Rule 53 (b) (ii) in that whilst riding Disco Master, he stopped riding for a number of strides passing the 150m mark resulting in his mount losing momentum and thereby jeopardising his chances of winning."
"After taking all the evidence into consideration including the circumstances that led to his negligence and his plea of guilty, the Stewards suspended him for a period of six months with effect from Monday , 3 February 2003," the stewards' report stated.
Caddy had only been riding in the region for about a month when taking his rides on the weekend. He actually scored a winner at his first meeting at Perak on January 11.
PIC - Quentin Lang.