The once little-known Barree Stable is set to make a greater presence felt at Kranji very soon.
Though they are quite prominent back in Melbourne where they are known as the Barree Pastoral Co Pty Ltd with their horses trained by Flemington trainer Tommy Hughes Jnr, not many local punters knew about the Victorian-based outfit until the outstanding Debt Collector cut a swathe this year, sweeping four feature races, including three at Group 1 level, the Singapore Guineas, the Panasonic Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup.
Thanks to his superb deeds, the Thorn Park four-year-old is odds-on to be crowned the Singapore champion three-year-old after claiming two of the Legs of the 3YO Challenge, not to mention running a hot favourite to win the 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year title.
With trainer Cliff Brown's decision to sidestep the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20, even after bagging the first two Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series, the Kranji Mile (1600m) and the Raffles Cup (1800m), fans will only get to see Debt Collector again next season, but not Barree's now instantly-recognisable pink and white colours.
Brown, who has earned the distinction of becoming the first trainer at Kranji to win five Group 1 races in one season (other two are Lion City Cup with Zac Spirit and Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Laughing Gravy), has yet to map out any future plans for Debt Collector, be it local or overseas, but will for now focus on his less famous stablemate, Could Be Pearls, who comes out for his third outing in Friday's standalone meeting in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m.
Could Be Pearls will probably figure among the leading hopes going on his last-start flying second to Neo's Classic in a similar race two weeks ago.
"He ran very well at his last start. He's by Alamosa and I think he will be a nice horse in time," said Brown.
"It's good to have another nice horse from Barree Stable and Glenn Whittenbury. They first sent two horses they bred themselves, Lord Brompton and North Atlantic Ice, and both proved to be quite good here.
"But I bought Debt Collector and Could Be Pearls from New Zealand for them. There are two more that I bought for them and these two are from Australia and are only coming in next year.
"The Barree colours are well-known in Melbourne, especially with Tommy Hughes. Just last Saturday, they had a nice three-year-old filly by Denman (Miss Vesper) who won on debut in Geelong.
"It's great that they are looking at sending more horses up here, especially after what Debt Collector did."
Could Be Pearls will be ridden by Debt Collector's regular partner Michael Rodd, who was aboard at his second start when the gelding had trouble getting a clear run in the home straight, having to be eased off the heels of another runner (Race For Fame) but still finished three-quarter length off the surprise winner Neo's Classic. -STC
Though they are quite prominent back in Melbourne where they are known as the Barree Pastoral Co Pty Ltd with their horses trained by Flemington trainer Tommy Hughes Jnr, not many local punters knew about the Victorian-based outfit until the outstanding Debt Collector cut a swathe this year, sweeping four feature races, including three at Group 1 level, the Singapore Guineas, the Panasonic Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup.
Thanks to his superb deeds, the Thorn Park four-year-old is odds-on to be crowned the Singapore champion three-year-old after claiming two of the Legs of the 3YO Challenge, not to mention running a hot favourite to win the 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year title.
With trainer Cliff Brown's decision to sidestep the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 20, even after bagging the first two Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series, the Kranji Mile (1600m) and the Raffles Cup (1800m), fans will only get to see Debt Collector again next season, but not Barree's now instantly-recognisable pink and white colours.
Brown, who has earned the distinction of becoming the first trainer at Kranji to win five Group 1 races in one season (other two are Lion City Cup with Zac Spirit and Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Laughing Gravy), has yet to map out any future plans for Debt Collector, be it local or overseas, but will for now focus on his less famous stablemate, Could Be Pearls, who comes out for his third outing in Friday's standalone meeting in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m.
Could Be Pearls will probably figure among the leading hopes going on his last-start flying second to Neo's Classic in a similar race two weeks ago.
"He ran very well at his last start. He's by Alamosa and I think he will be a nice horse in time," said Brown.
"It's good to have another nice horse from Barree Stable and Glenn Whittenbury. They first sent two horses they bred themselves, Lord Brompton and North Atlantic Ice, and both proved to be quite good here.
"But I bought Debt Collector and Could Be Pearls from New Zealand for them. There are two more that I bought for them and these two are from Australia and are only coming in next year.
"The Barree colours are well-known in Melbourne, especially with Tommy Hughes. Just last Saturday, they had a nice three-year-old filly by Denman (Miss Vesper) who won on debut in Geelong.
"It's great that they are looking at sending more horses up here, especially after what Debt Collector did."
Could Be Pearls will be ridden by Debt Collector's regular partner Michael Rodd, who was aboard at his second start when the gelding had trouble getting a clear run in the home straight, having to be eased off the heels of another runner (Race For Fame) but still finished three-quarter length off the surprise winner Neo's Classic. -STC