Trish Dunell
Tavistock gelding Infantry belied his $7000 purchase price as a weanling when winning the S$1.15 million Singapore Derby at Kranji racecourse on Sunday.
In doing so, he ended the hopes of fellow New Zealand-bred Alibi of becoming the first horse to win all three legs of the Singapore four-year-old challenge.
Infantry was previously runner-up in the Stewards’ Cup (1400m) and third in the Patron’s Bowl (1600m) behind the Michael Clements trained runner.
“This horse has such a big heart, he always does his best and throughout his prep I was satisfied with his work,” trainer Alwin Tan said.
“I gave him a lot of endurance work, more than the two other horses (Nova Strike who ran third and Absolute Miracle who ran eighth) and it’s obviously paid off.”
Infantry had a quiet run throughout the race, tracking Alibi, who finished fourth, for the majority before coming wide at the turn to kick clear of the field to win by a length in the 2000m race.
He became the sixth New Zealand-bred horse to win the Singapore Derby in the last eight years.
Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud, Infantry was sold for $7000 as a weanling at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock weanling, broodmare and mixed bloodstock sale.
It is a sale that has proven to show plenty of value, with fellow Derby winner Gingernuts selling for $5000 in 2014 and Infantry’s own dam The Nightingale selling in-foal to Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy for $500 in 2015.
Infantry was later purchased out of Darrel Lang’s stable by Cambridge bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for Singapore clients after impressing when trialing as a two-year-old.
“He went to a two-year-old trial at Avondale in June 2015 over 800m and ran a nice second in a five-horse field,” Cataldo said.
“On the back of selling Affleck (champion Singapore two and three-year-old) I was approached by the Kajorn Petch stable to buy them a horse.
“Infantry was an ideal prospect. He was unraced, had ability, a sound brain, a good pedigree and would keep improving physically.”
Victory in the 2000m race further adds to Tavistock’s outstanding record as a sire and he now boasts four Derby winners with Tavago (Gr.1 Australian Derby) Tarzino (Gr.1 Victoria Derby) and Werther (Gr.2 Hong Kong Derby) his previous successes.
“I’m a big fan of Tavistock,” Cataldo said. “He was owned by my good friend Tommy Heptinstall and I was with Tommy when he bought him at Karaka.
“I followed him closely through his racing career and was instrumental in brokering the deal to sell him to Cambridge Stud. It’s a big thrill to be involved with yet another Derby winner by this top stallion.”
Tavistock will stand at Cambridge Stud in the 2017 season for a service fee of $65,000 + GST. - NZ Racing Desk.