Singapore Racing’s English Broadcast Team – Gareth Pepper, Craig Evans and Matt Jones
I have been in Singapore just over six weeks now and it has been an eye opening experience for me. The facilities are spectacular and I have been simply blown away by the sheer enormity and efficiency of The Singapore Turf Club. Simply put, everything works. It is also really clean here and no expense is spared, writes Gareth Pepper in Singapore.
The Chinese New Year was ushered in with the CECF Singapore Cup, sponsored by the China Horse Club. The total purse was $3 050 000, making it the richest race here.
An international field was assembled (only horses that have interests from the CHC were eligible) and the honours went to Parranda, a 6yo mare by English Channel out of Dynamic Feature.
What a race it was! Racing up handy, when asked to quicken Parranda responded immediately and won going away. She is trained in the US by Christophe Clement and It was great to have Christophe Soumillion in town to steer her home.
We also enjoy watching jocks of the calibre of Jamie Spencer, Tommy Berry, Blake Shinn, Hugh Bowman and Darryll Holland – all capable of riding with the best anywhere in the world.
We are also spoilt for choice with expat jockey’s plying their trade here.
These include the likes of Craig Newitt (who in between riding on Friday afternoon and on Sunday, jetted to Melbourne to partner Lankan Rupee who was simply scintillating last Saturday) and Michael Rodd, currently 2nd on the log.
Nooresh Juglall – doing well here
Then everybody at home will know the talented Mauritian Nooresh Juglall, Corey Brown, John Powell and a Springbok of note in Barend Vorster, who together with trainer Pat Shaw teamed up to win the Fortune Bowl on Friday with Emperoro’s Banquet.
Champion rider for 2014 was Manoel Nunes, 9 time champion of Macau, who has taken over the reins from Joao Morreira, and has a commanding lead in the jockeys championship already –
On the information front, the Singapore Turf Club Website is very impressive. One can find the replays of all races, barrier trials and plenty of other news and facts that I believe are imperative to the punting public and to racing enthusiasts in general.
I have been impressed by a few horses, but one that stands out is the 3yo filly Kiwi Karma, trained by a familiar name in Michael Clements. She won the supporting feature last Sunday, the Prestige Classic, run over 1400m and showed she has a touch of class about her.
She is one to follow in the upcoming months.
Till next time.
