Better Than Ever's Half-Brother at Karaka 2011
Tuesday 26 October 2010, 5:57PM
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Better Than Ever's Half-Brother at Karaka 2011
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010Continuing his stunning unbeaten record of 12 wins in a row, Karaka graduate Better Than Ever took out the second leg of the Singapore Triple Crown on Sunday with an emphatic win in the S$500,000 Sgp-1 Raffles Cup at Kranji.
After a nail-biting perfomance in the Kranji Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, where the invincible four-year-old left it late and looked likely to be beaten by stable-mate Waikato, Better Than Ever made Sunday's win over 1800 metres look effortless.
Ridden by regular jockey Saimee Jumat, the son of French Deputy was allowed to settle sixth as a quick pace was set early in the race. Although the pace never slackened Better Than Ever worked his way up the field to within striking distance and when asked at the beginning of the straight he cruised to the lead to capture the race by two-and-three-quarter-lengths ahead of fellow New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Waikato.
Trainer Laurie Laxon is now considering Better Than Ever for the third leg, the Singapore Gold Cup, on November 14.
"And why not Better Than Ever in the Gold Cup? It all depends on how much the handicapper will penalise him with, but he certainly is running like he'll run the 2200m."
Also on the cards for the gelding is the $5 million Dubai Duty Free Stakes in March.
With these two wins the Singapore superstar scored a S$50,000 bonus for owners Tang Weng Fei and Thomas Loke of Jupiter Stable.
A $80,000 purchase by Laurie from the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale Better Than Ever now has career earnings of $1,245,141 and a perfect record of twelve wins from twelve starts.
Thrilled to own a horse of such calibre, Better Than Ever is Tang Weng Fei's pride and joy.
"I have waited 25 years for this horse and it has been worth the wait."
Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax's Blandford Lodge will be offering half-brother to Better Than Ever by exciting young sire Darci Brahma at the 2011 Karaka National Yearling Sale Series commencing 31 January at Karaka.
Karaka graduates had further success in Asia over the weekend with another 12 winners in the region:
Horse Breeding RaceBreeder NZB Sale Details
Big MomokoBlack Minnaloushe - TricksterSingapore Class 5A W, Mrs V A & W K
PikeB. Laurie Laxon V. Longlands Stud S. 09 Premier P. $37,500
Fleet Foot San Luis - Sun JacketSingapore Class 5Highview Stud LtdB. Mrs MC
Harkema V. Highview Stud S. 08 Highview Stud Deplenishing Sale P. $3,000
ZinlyDanasinga - La CentSingapore Class 5G J ChittickB. Mr Tony Pike V.
Waikato Stud S. 04 Premier P. $65,000
Gold Rush Faltaat - Joan's BestHKJC Hsin Chong Construction H. Westbury
Stud Ltd B. John Foote Bloodstock V. Westbury Stud S. 07 Carnival P.
$52,000
Flying ColoursHowbaddouwantit - KesiaHKJC Mission Hills Dongguan Hotel H.P
J TennantB. Ascot Farm V. P.J & B.M. Tennant S. 07 Festival P. $7,250
Hot ShotIshiguru - Sun CityHKJC Mission Hills Properties H.J W CampinB.
Waikato Bloodstock V. Chequers Stud S. 08 Select P. $55,000
North HillO'Reilly - Conte PartiroHKJC Silver Lining Cup H. Rick Smith
Bloodstock (NZ) LtdB. Mr R Collett V. Wentwood Grange S. 05 Select P.
$40,000
Lion's FortunePins - PeninsulaHKJC Mission Hills Group H. J N WallaceB. Mr
Gry Hennessy V. Ardsley Stud S. 06 Premier P. $80,000
Shadow Wind Black Minnaloushe - MadamaxSelangor Class 5B W HoneyboneB.
Stuart Hale & Co V. Mana Park S. 06 Ready to Run P. $55,000
North to AlaskaIshiguru - CharismaticSelangor Class 4J W CampinB. NZB as
Agent V. Chequers Stuc S. Ready to Run P. $32,500
Dazzling PeridotStrategic Image - MayballineSelangor 3YO MaidenMrs I M
Prangley-YettonB. Mr LR Beckett V. Woodyates S. 09 Festival P. $4,500
The Lucky SteedFantastic Light - Princess AleaMacau New Orleans Consolation
H.C P & Mrs M J A HowellsB. NZB as Agent V. Ainsley Downs Stud S. 08 Select
P. $25,000