Debt Collector (No 8) holds Well Done at bay to land the SIN G1 Kranji Mile
It was billed as Singapore's race of the year, the clash between the old guard and the rising stars, and the $700,000 SIN G1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) did not disappoint with the two "young pretenders" Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk) running 1-2 on Sunday.
Regarded as the future of Singapore racing, Debt Collector (Michael Rodd) and Well Done (Glen Boss) showed in no uncertain terms they could hold their own against Kranji's crème de la crème when they were the ones who came up with the best turns of foot inside the last 300m to fight out the finish of the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series.
Debt Collector won with a neck to spare from Well Done in a winning time of 1min 34.43secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Cliff Brown was speechless yet again, unable to process the way his horse seems to always find the line even when things look against him. With that sixth win, Debt Collector has now hit the $1 million for his owners, the Victorian-based Barree Stable.
"I thought he would be in trouble today. He was struggling at the 700m, at least it looked that way, I'll have to have another look at the replay," said the Australian handler.
"To be honest, I thought he was handier than usual today. But I had left it to Michael and I trusted he knew what he was doing.
"I've been nervous since Tuesday. I have confidence in his ability, but this was his biggest test by far.
"He's just a remarkable horse who just knows where the post is. It's onwards to the Raffles Cup now, but he won't be going for the Gold Cup.
"Then he will go for a break and we will set him for the Derby next year."
The Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) is the second Leg of the series and will be run on October 30.
Both Debt Collector and Well Done were bred by Windsor Park Stud and notably both are graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale which has attracted a bumper catalogue of 552 lots with the sale to take place on November 16 and 17. – Singapore Turf Club
Regarded as the future of Singapore racing, Debt Collector (Michael Rodd) and Well Done (Glen Boss) showed in no uncertain terms they could hold their own against Kranji's crème de la crème when they were the ones who came up with the best turns of foot inside the last 300m to fight out the finish of the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series.
Debt Collector won with a neck to spare from Well Done in a winning time of 1min 34.43secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Cliff Brown was speechless yet again, unable to process the way his horse seems to always find the line even when things look against him. With that sixth win, Debt Collector has now hit the $1 million for his owners, the Victorian-based Barree Stable.
"I thought he would be in trouble today. He was struggling at the 700m, at least it looked that way, I'll have to have another look at the replay," said the Australian handler.
"To be honest, I thought he was handier than usual today. But I had left it to Michael and I trusted he knew what he was doing.
"I've been nervous since Tuesday. I have confidence in his ability, but this was his biggest test by far.
"He's just a remarkable horse who just knows where the post is. It's onwards to the Raffles Cup now, but he won't be going for the Gold Cup.
"Then he will go for a break and we will set him for the Derby next year."
The Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) is the second Leg of the series and will be run on October 30.
Both Debt Collector and Well Done were bred by Windsor Park Stud and notably both are graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale which has attracted a bumper catalogue of 552 lots with the sale to take place on November 16 and 17. – Singapore Turf Club