Gai Waterhouse trained both the two-year-old winners at Canterbury on Wednesday with  Rampaging (2 c More Than Ready - Fountain Joy, by Flying Spur) winning the colts division and Valerio (2 f Strategic - Dianthus, by Red Ransom) the fillies division.

Rampaging started the $1.70 favourite and was getting reminders from Nash Rawiller before the home turn but once he got balanced in the straight he ran on well to reach the lead 100m out and then ease clear to defeat Bradman (Charge Forward) by one and three-quarter lengths.

“He lost his rudder 600 metres from home but when I put his mind back on the job he was a different horse,” Nash Rawiller explained. ”He travelled up really well, hit the front a bit too soon but he got it done.”

“To me he’s a horse with very good ability but he’s more of a three-year-old so whatever we can get out of him at the moment is a bit of a bonus.”

Rampaging sold for $80,000 at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale from the Makybe draft and is bred on the same cross as Golden Slipper winner Sebring and Raceway, both those trained by Waterhouse.

A race later it was the turn of Valerio, who gave Waterhouse and Rawiller a double in the 1100 metre maiden for fillies.

Valerio burst through between fillies in the straight to come through and nab the Chris Waller-trained Kristy Lee (Encosta de Lago - Shania Dane) in the final strides to score by a half-head.

“I can’t wait until the blinkers go on it will make my job a lot easier,” Rawiller said. ”She got really lost midrace, she was racing awkward between horses and she again got lost on the home turn. She did a good job in the end I thought to pick up and win.”

Nicskioffski (2 f Gonski - Cymbidium, by Noalcoholic) showed she has plenty of heart when winning the $30,000 Hyland Race Colours 2yo Fillies Hcp (1000m) at Sportingbet Sandown Park on Wednesday.

The daughter of Gonski started at $15 and found plenty under pressure after being headed to score by a long neck from the $1.80 favourite Languish (Exceed And Excel) with Popular Acclaim (Exceed And Excel) the same margin away third.

Trainer Doug Harrison paid just $9000 for Nicskioffski as a yearling at the 2010 Melbourne Autumn Sale  and she has now won two of her three starts. Harrison has his stable in good form of late and he described Nicskioffski as “a bit of a madam”.

Nicskioffski was ridden by Wayne Davis who said, ”Sometimes with her antics she’s a bit of a handful but when they can gallop like that you put up with them, she’s as tough as nails. Whatever she does this preparation she’ll be better for as a three-year-old.”

“When she rounds her mannerisms and matures that little bit more she’ll be a very nice filly.”

Glamour Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) continued his wonderful run with his three-year-old filly crop when Rock Robster (Fastnet Rock - Chinese Whispers, by Woodman) won Wednesday’s Tasmanian Oaks.

The $100,000 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase defeated the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Khandallah (Kitten’s Joy - La Rochelle, by Honour And Glory) to complete a Victorian quinella in the $100,000 feature.

Rock Robster’s Tasmanian Oaks success came three months after Mosheen (Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) demolished her rivals by nine lengths in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Fastnet Rock also produced the amazing Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock - Regard, by Zabeel).

Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock - Akris, by Zabeel) and Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock - Popsy, by Sir Tristram) have also excelled during their three-year-old seasons in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, grand NSW sprinter Youthful Jack  (Youthful Legs - Formative, by White Bridle) kept his unbeaten record in Tasmania intact with a comfortable win in the Listed George Adams Plate (1600m) at Launceston.

The 2-1/4 length success was Youthful Jack’s 16^th from 46 starts and the gelding’s eighth Stakes success.

Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt - Miss Argyle, by Iglesia) became the eight individual stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud sire Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice - Singles Bar, by Rory’s Jester) with his win in the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston.

Cheyenne Warrior began his career with a smart win at Sandown on February 1. The promising colt defeated the local galloper Kenjorwood (Snippetson - Flying Diva, by Flying Spur) by a head to deny Snippetson (Snippets - Snowdrift, by Polish Precedent) his second stakes win in five days.

Victorian-trained two-year-olds have taken a liking to the Gold Sovereign Stakes in recent years.

The smart youngster Golden Archer (Rock Of Gibraltar - Viennetta, by Pins) won the race for the Peter Moody stable last year while Rock The Moment (Rock Of Gibraltar - Moment’s Pleasure, by Archregent) claimed the event in 2009.

Alfa (El Moxie - Spinning Reel, by Kaoru Star) took out the Gold Sovereign Stakes before winning the Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in 1996.

Cheyenne Warrior fetched $80,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Substation (Not A Single Doubt - Princess Shorna, by Last Tycoon) completed a juvenile double for Not A Single Doubt with his win in the Sita Australia Maiden (1110m) at Doomben.

Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) will not be running in this weekend’s Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Trainer Peter Moody with the unbeaten mare’s owners last night, when it was decided she would have an easy two months before embarking on her trip to England for Royal Ascot.

“Black Caviar won’t be chasing her record 20th consecutive win in Saturday’s Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, or next month’s Newmarket Handicap, or, for that matter, in Dubai - or anywhere else for the next two months,” Moody is quoted in News Ltd papers.

“There’s nothing wrong with her. To the contrary, she’s at the top of her game. But it’s all geared around having her at her peak when she flies across to England for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

“That’s the Royal Ascot race the owners have had their sights on for some time and everything is being tailored like a Savile Row suit to have her cherry-ripe for that race on June 23.”

“I’ve got no doubt that Black Caviar could have gone to the Futurity on Saturday and just won as easily as she did in the Orr Stakes earlier in the month, but it would have been her fourth run in five weeks.”

“I had to look at the bigger picture. I’m looking to give Black Caviar her shot at stretching her winning streak to a perfect 20 in either Adelaide or Brisbane before we head off to England.

“Either way she will have two-and-a-half weeks back at my Caulfield stables before flying to England, three weeks before the Diamond Jubilee. And from there we get her ready to take on the Poms at Royal Ascot. I can’t wait - I reckon Black Caviar will show them a thing or two.”

A filly by Musket (Redoute’s Choice) topped the 2012 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale that ended with a record clearance rate in Launceston on Tuesday. Almost 80 per cent of the 111 lots offered were sold, headed by the Musket filly at $60,000.

Offered for auction by Alva Stud, as agent for breeder Geoff Hillier, the filly was purchased by local buyer Semba Pty Ltd. She is first living foal of the Tasmanian Guineas winner Di’s Angel - a daughter of Racer’s Edge who earned over $177,000 during her racetrack career.

Another first season sire, Belong to Me’s Group One winning son Bon Hoffa, provided the day’s second top seller - the filly from Antonia’s Gold. Star Thoroughbreds’ Denise Martin, bidding on the phone through David Chester, purchased the chestnut filly from the Brooklyn Lodge draft for $55,000.

The sale grossed $1,024,500 on 88 lots sold at an average price of $11,642, both those figures slightly down on 2011.

“The success of a sale can be seen through the clearance rate,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox reported.”It was an extremely good day’s selling and for the clearance to rise from under 64 per cent to almost 80 is phenomenal.”

“Traditionally this sale has returned lower selling rates - but today it was different with a healthy buying bench from around Tasmania and the mainland competing for some top racetrack prospects.”

“The breeders and vendors did a great job presenting the yearlings on offer and there was spirited bidding on a number of lots. Credit must go to the Tasbreeders - in particular Angela Armstrong who was representing that organisation for the first time.”

“The Magic Millions team headed by Tim Brown and Tony Williams and auctioneers David Chester and Grant Burns also should be congratulated.”

“All in all it’s been a great day’s selling and everyone who played their part should be duly recognised and thanked,” Cox said.

SALE STATISTICS

(2011 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 115 (160)

Sale Gross: $1,024,500 ($1,243,250)

Average Price: $11,642 ($12,558)

Median Price: $7,000 ($10,000)

Top Price: $60,000 ($62,000)

Lots Sold: 88 (99)

Lots Withdrawn: 4 (5)

Lots Passed In: 23 (56)

Sold %: 79.3% (63.9%)

The Mick Price-trained filly Samaready (More Than Ready - Samar) retained favouritism for Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) after the barrier draw for the $1 million event.

The Melbourne Racing Club conducted the Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw at a function at the City Square in the centre of the city. Price himself drew Samaready’s barrier at the function with the trainer pleased with his effort of drawing barrier eight for the $2.10 favourite.

“We wanted to draw somewhere between four and about 12, so I think it’s ideal,” Price said.

“There’ll be good speed on, it’s a big field of 16 runners. There’s obviously a slight traffic concern from that gate, but she’s in beautiful order so I think it’s a good gate.”

Mornington trainer Matt Laurie did The Travelling Man’s (Mossman - Gypsy Jewels) chances no harm when he selected barrier two for the Mossman (Success Express - Lichen Lady, by Twig Moss) youngster.

Below is the full barrier draw for Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

The widest margin recorded at Wangaratta races on Monday came with the runaway six-length win registered by Duel Lover (3 g Duelled - Peninsula Love, by Spectacular Love) in the $12,000 Wangaratta Stock Foods Maiden (2010m).

Having been positioned in fifth place early by Jarrod Todd, Duel Lover was travelling strongly into the straight and moved up to challenge. Once Todd put two smacks around his rump, the bay lengthened his stride and went away, eased down to a canter at the line. Irob Rose (Zabeel) finished second ahead of Angie Sparkles (Churchill Downs) in third.

Heavy storms passed through the area with the Wangaratta track starting a Dead4 and ending a Heavy9 but Duel Lover appeared to enjoy the soft conditions to win with authority.

Duel Lover is trained at Flemington by Nigel Blackiston and sold for just $4000 as a yearling at the 2010 NZB Festival Yearling Sale.

“He was always going well and I had plenty of horse underneath me into the straight,” Todd said. “I don’t think he was necessarily fully comfortable in the ground but he lengthened well and once he was balanced he really went away from them. Nigel’s has been patient with him, he’s got a future.”

The cream of Tasmania’s latest yearling crop will go under the hammer on Tuesday at the 2012 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. The Inveresk Showgrounds in Launceston will host the sale where 115 lots have been catalogued.

Recent graduates of the sale include star mare Lady Lynette, last season’s outstanding group winning juvenile Triple Asset and recent Derby winner Methuselah.

One of the leading vendors at the sale will be Armidale Stud with 17 lots in the catalogue. The Whishaw family’s operation scooped the pool at the Tasmanian Awards for the 2010-11 season with the Two and Three-Year-Old of the Year, Racehorse of the Year and Filly and Mare of the Year.

The McCulloch family’s Grenville Stud have another quality draft at the sale and they will present Lot 1 - a filly by Incumbent from Safe Haven.

Aceland Stud, the breeder of last week’s Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Tiger’s Cub have another top draft including his half sister by Hay List’s sire Statue of Liberty.

Among the lots catalogued in the sale include stakes winners Classic Marco, Dream the Dream, Nuclear Free, Brief Embrace, Braequest, King’s Scholar, Radha Rani, Testamarriage and Twenty Grand.

Stakes winning mares with progeny catalogued include Dream of the Danc, Angel’s Jewel, Cattle Kate, Di’s Angel, Escapada, Galvanized, Gehenna, Genuine Girl, Private Nip and Wavishing.

Australian-bred Speedy Leo (3 g Nadeem - Leonina, by Snippets) lived up to his name with an all the way win in the Listed Lisboa Prelude over 1100 metres at Taipa in Macau on Saturday.

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Speedy Leo stepped away only fairly off the inside but quickly mustered speed to lead on settling. The three year kicked nicely off the home turn and whilst still displaying some greenness in the run home found plenty to beat race favorite Lucky And Wealthy (Strada) with Smiling Happy (Danzero) in third.

Speedy Leo

Patrick Lee purchased the grey gelding for $52,500 Aud. at the 2010 Magic Millions Summer Sale for owner Mr. Lok Ho Ting who raced Lee’s star sand galloper Good Control.

At Friday night’s sand meeting Lee’s smart sprinter Southern Luckystar returned to the race track victorious after seven month absence to win the Class 2 & 3 over 1050 metres.

Confidently bet to start at 3/1 Southern Luckystar an impressive big son of Dubleo (USA) overcame gate 11 to power home for a good win over The Love Guru and August Star. The four year old gelding is putting together an impressive record with four wins and two placings from his eight career starts.

The brilliant first up win by The Peak at Sha Tin in Hong Kong last Sunday was a further indication of the merit of his promising young sire, the Danzig line stallion Pendragon. The Peak became the sixth individual winner from Pendragon’s first twelve very lightly raced runners. His other winners have been in relatively strong company and it is worth noting that he has also been responsible for a couple of very impressive triallists that have yet to appear. (more…)

Classy three-year-old Super Easy (3 g Darci Brahma – Parfore, by Gold Brose) maintained his unbeaten record when he took out the $200,000 Gr 3 Three Rings Trophy over 1400m at Kranji on Sunday. The New Zealand-bred colt has been to the races on seven occasions in Singapore and trainer Michael Freedman was a relieved man after Super Easy crossed the line in first position.

Providing Joao Moreira with the third leg of a winning treble, Super Easy scored a half-length victory over Won’t Stop (Testa Rossa) with Rafaga (Lord Of Warriors) a length-and-three-quarters away third.

One of the first to jump, Moreira didn’t want to use Super Easy up in the early stages and instead restrained the colt to settle in fifth position. Moreira was angling for a trail in the running line but was forced to cover ground three wide in the run. Coming to the turn Moreira still had a lapful of horse as he moved forward but Won’t Stop and Rafaga were still going strongly.

Moreira had to pull the whip on Super Easy with 200m to run and the colt eventually found the ascendency from Won’t Stop as Rafaga.

Super Easy

Freedman said he had concerns when Super Easy drew barrier eight in the field of eight and thought the opposition would make him work. “You are always a bit worried when you draw barrier eight of eight. Small fields can produce funny run races but we went into the race without any preconceived plans.”

“The only thing I didn’t want was him leading. Being a colt I think he’s better when he’s got something to chase down. The opposition really made him earn it today but in the end he showed what a classy colt he is.”

Freedman said Super Easy would have a short break before being prepared for the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge which kicks off with the Group 3 $250,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 30.

The series then goes to the Group 2 $350,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on April 20 before concluding with the Group 1 $500,000 Singapore Guineas over 1600m on May 18.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him race against his own age,” said Freedman. “To date all his seven wins have been against the older horses. We’ll go to the Three-Year-Old Challenge with him now and the main question I have is whether he will run out the mile of the Guineas.

“Ultimately I think he will prove a very good 1200m to 1400m horse, but we have to give him chance in the Guineas this year.”

Zaidan (4 g Street Cry - Element Of Truth, by Atticus) hung on from the fast-finishing Sweet Orange (War Front) to land Sunday’s HKGr 1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin for trainer John Moore, who also saddled the third home, Dominant (Cacique).

Olivier Doleuze held Zaidan off the pace through the early stages after pulling out for a clear run turning in, drove the four-year-old to what appeared to be a commanding lead with 300m remaining.

With the line fast approaching Sweet Orange, winner of last month’s HK G1 Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile flashed home down the centre of the track to get to within a nose at the line with Dominant finishing third.

Zaidan wins the Classic Cup

“Zaidan’s a different horse since we gelded him,” commented Moore. “He’s more genuine and today we got a good run in behind with very little incident along the way.”

“He kicked hard and the only thing the jockey said was that when he hit the front, he pricked his ears and half wanted to pull up, so Olivier will have to be careful of that when he rides him in the Derby, which I think he will do.”

“John said to put a few horses in front of him,” the French jockey said, “so I had him between 5th and 7th. He travelled nicely through the race and when I saw the horse in front was stopping, I pulled him out and asked him and he gave me very good acceleration. It was a good win.”

Trainer Gai Waterhouse won both the 2yo Listed races at Warwick Farm, the well-spruiked Raceway just getting home in the $100,000 Sharp Canonbury Stakes with the Magic Millions winner Driefontein the narrow winner of the $100,000 Tom Cassar Widden Stakes.

Raceway (2 rig More Than Ready - Claws, by Flying Spur) took the length of the straight to wear down Shelford (Redoute’s Choice), trained by John O’Shea and making his raceday debut, with the Darley colt Narcissus (Exceed And Excel) in third.

Waterhouse said Raceway’s determination will stand him in good stead for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

“I think people thought he was going to win by a bigger margin but the thing is he’s still learning,” Waterhouse said. “He’s such a big horse.”

“You don’t have to win the Slipper by 10 lengths. I’ve won three of them and you only have to win by a head.”

Jockey Hugh Bowman said Raceway will improve for the race. ”He’s a natural athlete. A readymade two-year-old that’s bombproof with the gears to make his own luck. There is plenty to like about him.”

Raceway’s stablemate Driefontein (2 f Fastnet Rock - Follow Gold, by Export Price) also had to call on her fighting qualities to wear down Agueda (General Nediym) in the Widden Stakes, with Husousa (Husson) running on strongly late for third.

Driefontein made her task harder by being slowly away. “They did not go her way and it is a silly little habit she has developed,” Waterhouse said referring to the start. “But wasn’t she tenacious the way she won the race and she had every excuse to be beaten.”

“She had to do a little bustle early and I thought the horse to her outside was going to swoop and get her, but she said ‘no way’ and she dug deep. She is such a good filly.’ she said.

Trainer Gerald Ryan aptly described Hot Snitzel as “a gutsy horse” after the son of Snitzel defied Manawanui in Saturday’s Gr 2 $175,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm. Hugh Bowman allowed Hot Snitzel to race prominently and shared the lead before the home straight.

Clear early in the final straight, Hot Snitzel (3 g Snitzel - Flames Of Paris, by Blushing Groom) ran on gamely to defeat Manawanui (Oratorio), who ran on solidly in the final stages, with Moment Of Change (Barely A Moment), who shared the lead to the turn, sticking on well for third ahead of the fast finishing Rekindled Alliance (Redoute’s Choice).

“A good gutsy win but that’s what I’ve come to expect from him,”Ryan said. “He’s not top class but he’s a gutsy horse.”

“He’s come up bigger and stronger each time. We’ll keep placing him in races we think he can win and he’ll keep running well.”

“He’s  a tough, genuine horse. I thought he’d run well first-up. He’s one of those horses that doesn’t disappoint you.” Bowman said of the winner.

The Group race for 3yo fillies on the card was won in similarly game fashion by the John O’Shea-trained Sea Siren (3 f Fastnet Rock - Express A Smile, by Success Express) who held off a late run from Streama (Stratum) to win the $175,000 Gr 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).

“We came here today very, very confident and Pumper rode her accordingly,” O’Shea’s stable foreman Bryce Heys said. “She’s a filly with a lot of quality and ability.”

O’Shea and Cassidy combined earlier in the day to win the Gr 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Classic (1200m) with the improving Steps In Time (4 m Danehill Dancer - Rare Insight, by O’Reilly), who defeated an unlucky looking Beaded (Lonhro) by three-quarters of a length with Red Tracer (Dane Shadow) close up in third.

Steps In Time has been racing through the grades and yestrday was her first test in Group company.”Very good effort,” Heys said. “It obviously helped to have that fitness edge over those good mares.”

The Gr 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 24 at Rosehill was mentioned as a possible target for Steps In Time.

“That good residual fitness was a big plus.

The Danny O’Brien-trained filly Shopaholic (Pins - Splashing Out, by O’Reilly) became the 44^th individual stakes winner for Waikato Stud-based sire Pins (Snippets - No Finer, by Kaoru Star) in the Group 3 The Vanity (1410m) at Flemington.

Shopaholic upset the well-backed favourite, the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) to win the $175,000 feature to continue a terrific family history.

Shopaholic is a daughter of Splashing Out (O’Reilly - Iguazu, by Carolingian). O’Brien trained the filly on to win the Group 3 Thoroughbred Clubs Stakes (1200m) on behalf of Waikato Stud in 2006.

Shopaholic is the first foal to race out of Splashing Out. Splashing Out foaled a Pins filly in 2009 and a colt by the same sire in 2010.

Meanwhile, That’s The One became the third stakeswinner by Widden Stud sire Snippetson (Snippets - Snowdrift, by Polish Precedent) when the three-year-old pulled off an upset of his own in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1410m).

Multiple Group 1 winner Helmet (Exceed And Excel - Accessories, by Singspiel) started as an odds-on favourite to record a first-up win in the C S Hayes Stakes but That’s The One’s strong finishing burst earned the Colin and Cindy Alderson-trained three-year-old his third win from five starts.

Champion mare Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit - Helsinge, by Scandinavia) win in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) provided a major highlight for her dam Helsinge (Desert - Scandinavia, by Snippets).

Black Caviar

There was little new in Black Caviar posting her 19^th straight win but Helsinge broke new ground when her two-year-old son All Too Hard (Casino Prince - Helsinge, by Desert Sun) won the Listed Talindert Stakes on debut, completing a stakes double for the broodmare.

The son of Casino Prince (Flying Spur - Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) raced well off the fence but still proved too good for his opposition in the Talindert Stakes. However, his trainers, Hawkes Racing, ruled out a start in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes for the Patinack Farm-owned colt, who fetched $1.025 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

All Too Hard all but sealed his stud career at Patinack Farm with his famous big sister and a juvenile stakes win to his name after one start. All Too Hard was also Casino Prince’s first stakes winner.

“Whether we go back to Sydney now with races like the Sires (Produce Stakes), the Champagne (Stakes), that sort of stuff,” Wayne Hawkes said. He’s not the sort of horse to be backing up week to week. I know Redoute’s (Choice) did it and he was pretty special. I’m not saying this bloke is not but it’s just not in his nature to actually go and do that.”

Black Caviar strutted her stuff a little more than three hours later. The mare prevailed in a pulsating duel with the outstanding sprinter Hay List (Statue Of Liberty - Sing Hallelujah, by Is It True) to win her second straight Lightning Stakes in front of more than 20,000 people at Flemington.

The hard run turned Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody against backing up the super sprinter again in next Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

“I would pretty much say that she won’t be there next week,” Moody said. “For her to be there next Saturday, she probably had to have it softer today so we will let the dust settle but she needed to have it softer today to butter up three weeks in a row.

“I’ll sit down with the owners but if she goes to Dubai, she has probably run her last race in Australia this prep (preparation). If she doesn’t go to Dubai we will look at what option leads us into Royal Ascot.”

Australian-bred mare Mahbooba (Galileo - Sogha, by Red Ransom) won her second race of the year in Dubai when she took the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes (1800m) on the Meydan turf on Friday.

The four-year-old had made a winning local reappearance over the same distance on the opening night of the 2012 Carnival before being caught out by the drop to a mile in the Cape Verdi last time.

She was able to reverse form with First City (Diktat) who beat her on that occasion, with stablemate Reem (Galileo) in third place.

Winning trainer Mike De Kock, winning the race which was only introduced in 2004 for the fifth time, said. “She won well first time but things transpired against her in the Cape Verdi when we knew the trip was on the short side. She won over a lot further in the UK and she needed the extra furlong today to grind down First City.”

“The Sheema Classic will be the race we look at for her on World Cup night so the City Of Gold on Super Saturday is likely to be the next target.”

Champion sprinter Rocket Man (Viscount - Macrosa, by Mr McGinty) won his second Singapore Horse Of The Year title on Thursday night. Rocket Man’s title was one of 16 awards presented to mark the 2011 racing season and to honour Singapore’s Champions of the Turf.

The media – both English and Chinese – and members of the Singapore Turf Club Handicapping Department cast their votes on nine of the 16 categories.

Rocket Man was an overwhelming winner of the Horse of the Year award for his deeds in giving Singapore an International Group 1 victory when successful in the Golden Shaheen (1200m) in Dubai last March before overturning his two second placings in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) with victory in May.

The Patrick Shaw-trained sprinter was also named Champion Older Horse and for the second consecutive year – Champion Sprinter.

Also claiming honours for a second consecutive year were Australian-breds Better Than Ever (French Deputy) and Gingerbread Man (Shamardal).

Better Than Ever, who won his first 12 starts, claimed the 2010 Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Visit Indonesia Raffles Cup (1800m) as a part of his four-year-old year to claim Four-Year-Old honours whilst his successes in the 2011 Kranji Mile, the Group 3 Three Rings Trophy (1400m) and the Group 3 Polytrack Mile Championship (1600m) along with second placings in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) and Group 1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) saw him awarded Champion Miler.

After winning the Two-Year-Old title in 2010, Gingerbread Man was named the Champion Three-Year-Old after taking out the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge last year, following in the footsteps of Better Than Ever 12 months prior.

Mr Big (Elusive Quality) attained Champion Two-Year-Old honours on the strength of three victories from three visits to the racetrack which saw him claim the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) and the Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m).

One of the first mares to be covered northern time this year by Redoute’s Choice is Piccadilly Circus, a daughter of Royal Academy (USA) and the dam of Fastnet Rock. Given that both Redoute’s Choice and Fastnet Rock are by the great Danehill (USA), it was an easy mating to plan. The 2012 Northern Hemisphere book for Arrowfield’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice is now officially open.

Redoute’s Choice has been available to breeders for a very limited number of northern time services each year since 2006 and the results include Elzaam and Tazahum, both Group-placed stakeswinners in England, Japanese stakeswinner Clianthus and Group-placed English winner Rakasa.

The profile of Redoute’s Choice in the northern hemisphere has also been boosted by his high-class southern time son Musir, a Group 1 winner in South Africa at two, and subsequent multiple Group winner in Dubai. His next target is the $US5 million Dubai Duty Free G1 at the Dubai World Cup meeting on 31 March.

Arrowfield’s bloodstock manager Jon Freyer says, “After successfully completing a southern hemisphere season where his fertility was again excellent, Redoute’s Choice is an attractive option for this type of mare that missed in the spring.

“The new session for northern time yearlings at the Inglis Australian Easter Sale is another good reason for breeders to consider using Redoute’s Choice at this time of year in Australia.”

Redoute’s Choice is enjoying another outstanding season in Australia where he has been represented by seven stakeswinners: King’s Rose, Rekindled Interest, Master of Design, Sister Madly, Galah (all at Group level), War Ends and 2YO filly Mama’s Choice.

He added the 82nd stakeswinner to his lifetime record when Packing Ok won the HKJC Centenary Vase HK-3 at Sha Tin on 11 February.