The Late Lee Kuan Yew
We had a break from racing last week as Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away. The first Prime Minister of Singapore and founding father was 93. It was touching to see the outpouring of sympathy, flowers and general empathy and respect for the man who took Singapore to the heights she is at today, writes Gareth Pepper.
A bumper Easter Friday and Sunday hosted what surely has been the most high quality cards since my arrival in this wonderful country.
Friday night saw the return of Champion 2yo Affleck who took on the pocket rocket filly Kiwi Karma. Race fitness played a huge part in the result as it was the Michael Clements- trained filly who gained the upper hand to beat the odds on favourite.
Although beaten, it was a game performance from Affleck who will only improve from this outing and they will clash again in two weeks time in the 3yo classic, in what looks to be a mouth -watering clash. Make sure you don’t miss it!
Sunday’s raceday was Sponsored by the JBBA and the game mare Thumping trained by H Takaoka and ridden by Harry Kassim beat Quecha and Flax, who between them looked to be fighting out first, with a smooth run down the inside rail and was rewarded for what has been a truly game career thus far.
That’s The Spirit
Zac Spirit
The highlight of Sunday for me, however, was Champion Sprinter, Zac Spirit.
Cliff Brown’s 5yo Gelding showed us why he is held in such high regard with an effortless victory in The Kranji Sprint Gr.3. John Powell steered the speedster home. His ultimate goal will be the Krisflyer Sprint and it really would be thoroughly deserved if he did win it. Keep an eye on Him.
Another horse that will be making his highly anticipated debut is a colt named Blue Danube. A Gr1 winner from Argentinia, trained by Clements, he will be trialling this week and running in two weeks’ time. He is one for the notebook.
Sarah’s First
My girlfriend Sarah made her first trip here and we were lucky enough to travel to Thailand for a few days.
The beaches are exactly as I pictured them to be and we really had an amazing time exploring all Thailand had to offer. I am really fortunate to be based in a country that provides such easy access to Asia and a lifelong dream of travelling and exploring the continent looks like it will be fulfilled.
For those interested in how the wedding went, it was great being back in SA for a short while.
The Guilds have now been happily married for two weeks and the wedding was a huge success -my suit is still intact too!
I indulged on good steak and even better company and I look forward to my next trip home, which may be around July, depending on what my father and Johan have in store for Unparalleled!
Till next time.
