With Racing only taking place today, it’s a relatively quiet week in Singapore, writes Gareth Pepper.
What has now become the status quo, we have a Sunday off prior to a Group 1 meeting the following week.
That will be the $800 000 Lion City Cup. What a race that looks set to be – more on that next week!
Laurie Laxon
The biggest news this week is that nine-time Champion Trainer Laurie Laxon saddled his 1200th winner at Kranji this past weekend courtesy of Ron and he was owned by the man who supplied Laurie with his first winner.
He races under the name of Oscar Racing and the man behind it is Mr Ck Phua.
What a magnificent achievement for a trainer who has not only been champion trainer here 9 times, but has won a Hong Kong International race and a Melbourne Cup. For those who have visited Kranji, they will know Laurie is a real character of the game.
Another milestone reached recently was Michael Clements’ 400th winner – the Zimbabwean was absolutely over the moon with his achievement.
Michael is a pleasure to deal with and just chatting to him often presents so much value in terms of interviews and information.
Another trainer to have reached a significant mark is Shane Baertschiger, with 200 winners,
Known as ‘stretch’, due to him being nearly 7ft tall, the likeable Shane too has had a great run, with that milestone coming just after he celebrated his fourth year as a trainer.
Congrats to all concerned.
Michael Rodd
Michael Rodd is on the comeback trail after fracturing his foot in four places.
The talented horseman from Australia has been sighted on the training tracks this week. I am sure he will bounce back with a bang and I wish him a successful return to racing here.
Back home, Abishiri is all the rage and deservedly so!
As I am sure you know, I have a great deal of time for my mentor the Azzman and I really wish him and his team all the best in the Derby.
I will have my Dad here around that time and we will tune in to Tellytrack.com and shout Abishiri home. It is also great to see Karl “The Truth” getting his maiden Group 1 win.
He is a hard worker that deserved this success and I hope it is the first of many for him.
Till next tIme.
