Bold Thruster (Turffontein x Aelia Capitolina) as a yearling (Inglis)
“遍寻我所到过的国家，从未有一个节日庆典能够被全民所热爱，能够将全民凝聚在一起。墨尔本杯就是有这种魅力，它使我震惊不已。”
Australian-breds made a clean sweep of Singapore’s black type racing on the weekend with the first four across the line in the Group Three Rocket Man Stakes, first three in the Group Three Moonbeam Vase and first two in the Group Two Singapore 3YO Classic all sourced from ‘down under’.
Exciting youngster, Top Knight, got the ball rolling on Friday night with his victory in the Singapore 3YO Classic, edging out a determined Makkem Lad in a thriller.
Top Knight becomes the eighth stakes winner for Widden Stud stallion, Zoustar, and currently boasts five wins and two placings from eight outings. Closely related to Group Two winner Dynamic Love, Top Knight was bred and sold by Elswick Park for $65,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.
It was somewhat fitting too that Australian-breds maintained an unblemished record in Sunday’s Rocket Man Sprint, named after arguably the greatest galloper to ever race in Singapore.
Ultimately, the first four across the line were Australian-breds, but honours went to the aptly named, Bold Thruster, who is widely considered the most promising racehorse in the region.
Bold Thruster was ridden by Barend Vorster – who had flown in from Adelaide fresh from his win on Despatch in the Group Three DC McKay Stakes – and the South African jockey has now partnered Bold Thruster in four of his previous five wins.
“It was such a courageous performance … when they levelled at the 400m he just gave another kick and put a half length on them. A special win,” Vorster enthused.
Bold Thruster led home Lim’s Cruiser, Mister Yeoh (both stakes winners in Singapore) and Zac Kasa, and will next tackle the prestigious Lion City Cup according to trainer, Shane Baertschiger.
A 3YO son of Blue Gum Farm’s Turffontein, Bold Thruster was sold by Bucklee Farm for $82,000 at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and has won six races and finished second from only eight starts.
Meanwhile, the Cliff Brown trained, Elite Excalibur had a welcome return to form in the Moonbeam Vase, winning his first race since the Group Three Committee’s Prize in March last year.
There was no denying the Fastnet Rock miler as he held off a determined Eye Guy to record his second stakes victory in Singapore and seventh win overall.
With his winning time just 0.34 seconds outside the course record, Elite Excalibur has earned a tilt at the Kranji Mile on 25 May, while the win was Brown’s 500th since moving from Victoria to Kranji in 2008.
