Chase Me (NZ) claims Derby/Chairman's Trophy double
30 Jul 2012 | New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd Last start Singapore Derby winner Chase Me (NZ) produced another outstanding performance in Singapore on Sunday when leading home a NZB trifecta in the S$300,000 Sgp-2 Chairman's Trophy (1800m).
A graduate of New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale, with this year's Sale to be held on Friday, Chase Me (Storm Creek x Cartier Gold) was given another cracking ride from jockey Joao Moreira with the pair settling in the second half of the field for the 1800 metre feature.
Approaching the 600 metre mark Moreira remained poised on Chase Me and brought the four-year-old wide on the turn and set out after fellow Karaka graduates Flying Fulton (Flying Spur) and Waikato (Pins) who were game at the front of the pack.
In a performance that has seen Chase Me emerge as one of Singapore's most exciting middle distance performers, he raced past Flying Fulton, who ran a brilliant race, to win the Chairman's Trophy by two lengths going away with the tough Waikato four-lengths back in third.
A horse that has shown so much improvement, Chase Me has come from a Class 4 performer to claim the Sgp-1 Singapore Derby/Sgp-2 Chairman's Trophy double inside a year and his trainer Desmond Koh was delighted with his brilliant performance last night.
"I have to say it was a test against the bigger boys and I was pleasantly surprised with the way he beat them," said Koh.
"His Derby win was against four-year-olds but today he proved he can be up there. I'm really impressed by the way he has improved in the last two months.
"There was a thought to give him a break after the Derby but he was doing so well that I decided to let him run in the Chairman's Trophy.
"He will go for a long break now and I will then bring him back for the Singapore Triple Crown."
The coveted Singapore Triple Crown consists of three Sgp-1 races, the Kranji Mile on 7 October, the Raffles Cup (1800m) on 22 October and Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on 11 November.
Bred by Peter Jenkins & Neoline Redfern, Chase Me was purchased by Brett Mcdonald from Twin Pines at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale for just $4,000.
Raced by Super Trio Stable, Chase Me's record now reads seven wins and eight placings from his 24 career starts for over $1 million in stakes.
New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale will be held at the Karaka sales complex this Friday 3 August from midday.
On other news the talented mare High Kin (NZ) raced her way to the biggest victory of her short career at Te Rapa on Saturday when winning the $80,000 Listed Hibiscus Painters Taumarunui Gold Cup (2100m).
Coming into the Gold Cup from off the bench, High Kin (High Chaparral x Kinzan) was the first emergency for the race and gained late entry into the feature on Saturday morning after the top weight Indikator was scratched due to a stone bruise.
High Kin is racing in top form, coming into the race off three consecutive race victories, and her class shone through in the Listed event as she put paid to a good field of 16 runners.
Settling just off the pace on the rail, jockey Cameron Lammas took the four-year-old into the clear coming into the straight and the daughter of High Chaparral burst to the front 200 metres from home, holding off late challenges from The Jungle Boy (Jungle Pocket) and Marea Alta (Montjeu) to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
High Kin's victory was the biggest race win for her trainer David Greene who had the Taumarunui Gold Cup in mind for the mare since her win in Tauranga last month.
Bred by Michael Kunac and C & J Stone, High Kin is the 37th stakes winner for her sire High Chaparral whose progeny earnings top $42 million worldwide.
High Kin was purchased by Stephen Marsh from Timberlee Thoroughbreds at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Festival Sale for $11,000. Raced by her co-breeder Michael Kunac with Ian Innes, High Kin's four wins from nine career starts have earned over $85,000.