‘Legend’ Miles the Best in Kranji Defence

[Wandering Eyes]

Crushed into long odds-on favouritism, Hong Kong-based Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) very much embodied the name of his sire when hacking up to post the easiest kind of victory in defence of his title in Saturday’s S$1.5-million Kranji Mile in Singapore. Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), formerly based in Hong Kong but now trained locally by Lee Freedman, turned in a cracking effort for second ahead of Hong Kong’s Singapore Sling (SAf) (Philanthropist) in third.

Drawn two–he had the inside barrier last May–Southern Legend jumped well, but was beaten for speed, as Singapore Sling was driven along to lead from the outside gate in the field of 10. Pressed along by Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven {Aus}), Singapore Sling led around the turn and into the lane, but Zac Purton maneuvered Southern Legend into the three path approaching the 400m marker and the duo stormed to the front a sixteenth of a mile later before shooting clear as tons the best. Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) rallied mildly from the tail to be fourth, albeit well-beaten.

“When Singapore Sling went forward like he did, I thought ‘great’–I just knew from experience that he’s not effective like that so I was happy to let him go, let him use his energy and then wait for the last quarter to do our job. It set the race up for us,” Purton opined.

Southern Legend was returning to winning ways, having been slightly disappointing when sixth to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 30. With Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) to contend with at home over 1600m, Southern Legend could be tried over further next season.

“He’s versatile, he’s won from 1200 metres and he ran a bottler in the [G1 Citi Hong Kong] Gold Cup at 2000 metres so when he’s on his game he’s going to run a cracking race,” trainer Caspar Fownes said, adding that the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over the mile and a quarter could be the December destination.

Hailing from the family of G1SW Charge Forward (Aus), Southern Legend has a yearling full-sister named Loveland (Aus) and his dam was most recently bred to Epaulette (Aus) on a late October cover.

In the day’s other main events, Aramco (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) outfinished favoured Lim’s Cruiser (Aus) (Casino Prince {Aus}) to cause a minor upset and give trainer Shane Baertschiger a first top domestic success in the Lion City Cup. The Michael Clements-conditioned Top Knight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) proved too classy for his rivals in a popular victory in the Singapore Guineas. Both horses were ridden by Vlad Duric.

Saturday’s Results:
KRANJI MILE, S$1,500,000 (£858,750/€974,810/A$1,579,898/
US$1,087,965), Kranji, 5-25, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.61, gd.
1–SOUTHERN LEGEND (AUS), 126, g, 6, Not A Single Doubt
(Aus)–Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg
’14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW);
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Zac Purton; S$892,500. Lifetime Record:
SW & MGSP-Aus, MG1SP-HK, 30-10-3-5, $3,441,895.
2–Blizzard (Aus), 126, g, 7, Starcraft (NZ)–Stormy Choice (Aus),
by Redoute’s Choice (Aus). (A$75,000 Ylg ’13 INGMAR).
O-Infinitude Stable. S$318,750.
3–Singapore Sling (SAf), 126, g, 5, Philanthropist-Sing Dixie Sing
(SAf), by Western Winter. (R225,000 Ylg ’15 CAPJAN). O-Nikki
Ng Mien Hua. $161,250.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 1 1/4. Winner’s Odds: 0.60.
Also Ran: Debt Collector (NZ), Countofmontecristo (NZ), Preditor (NZ), War Affair (NZ), King Louis (Aus), Elite Excalibur (Aus), Makanani (Jpn).
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.

LION CITY CUP, S$800,000 (£457,530/€519,032/A$839,434/US$581,714), Kranji, 5-25, 3yo, 1200mT, 1:08.99, gd.
1–ARAMCO (AUS), 126, g, 6, Magic Albert (Aus)–Eye For Fun
(Aus), by Snitzel (Aus). (A$750,000 Ylg ’14 INGEAS). O-Aramco
Stable; B-Dr I Duckworth (NSW); T-Shane Baertschiger; J-Vlad
Duric; S$476,000. Lifetime Record: 31-10-4-8, $882,069. *1/2
to Mossfun (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), G1SW-Aus, $2,355,787.
2–Lim’s Cruiser (Aus), 126, g, 6, Casino Prince (Aus)–Hope
Downs (Aus), by Good Journey. (A$17,000 Ylg ’14 MMGCYS;
A$100,000 2yo ’15 MGLJUN). O-Lim’s Stable. S$170,000.
3–Mister Yeoh (Aus), 126, g, 4, Wanted (Aus)–Wai Lin (Aus), by
Scenic (Ire). O-Mister Yeoh Stable. S$86,000.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, NK. Winner’s Odds: 5.60.
Also Ran: Clarton Super (Aus), Gingerella (Aus), Bold Thruster (Aus), Nimble (Aus), Super Fortune (Aus), Zac Kasa (Aus), Constant Justice (Aus).
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO

SINGAPORE GUINEAS, S$800,000 (£457,530/€519,032/A$839,434/US$581,714), Kranji, 5-25, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:34, gd.
1–TOP KNIGHT (AUS), 126, g, 3, by Zoustar (Aus)
1st Dam: Nero Cavallo (Aus), by Charnwood Forest (Ire)
2nd Dam: Huntington Girl (Aus), by Black Zephyr (NZ)
3rd Dam: Gentle Marchesa (Aus), by Purple Patch (Aus)
(A$65,000 Ylg ’17 MMMAR; A$130,000 2yo ’17 MMOCT).
O-Falcon Racing No. 7 Stable; B-; T-Michael Clements; J-Vlad
Duric; S$476,000. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-1, S$887,404.
2–Elite Incredible (Arg), 126, c, 3, Valid Stripes (Arg)–My
Chance (Arg), by American Chance. O-Elite Performance
Stable. S$170,000.
3–Lim’s Lightning (Aus), 126, g, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Wayne’s
Gold (Aus), by Golden Snake. (A$50,000 2yo ’17 MMOCT).
O-Lim’s Stable. S$86,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, HD. Winner’s Odds: 0.80.
Also Ran: Mo Almighty (Aus), Siam Vipasiri (Aus), Super Smart (Aus), Gold Star (Aus), Siam Blue Vanda (NZ), Vittoria Perfetta (Aus), No Fun No Gain (NZ), Pennywise (Arg), Hardcore (NZ), Siam Royal Orchid (Aus), Legend Rocks (Aus), Street Party (Aus), Makkem Lad (Aus).
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.

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