Star Choice wins at Kranji
The Raffles Racing Stable are enjoying a good run of form in Singapore, with Star Choice (NZ) (Starcraft) the latest winner for Dato Yap Kim San's operation when successful on Singapore debut for trainer Bruce Marsh.
Placed from three starts in New Zealand for Tony Pike, the Starcraft four-year-old scored in a $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, coming from a midfield spot in transit to produce the best finish inside the last 300m.
Ridden by Manoel Nunes, Star Choice defeated Mr Streisand by a length with Falkirk Lead third.
Star Choice had two barrier trials before making his Kranji debut, running fourth and third respectively.
"It was a lovely trial considering he ran over a bit of a distance with blinkers in New Zealand," said Marsh.
"On that trial and his work, I gave him a chance and I'm not that surprised he won tonight.
"It's good for the owners. Viviano is another one who won first-up for them.
"Hopefully, they send more horses to us in the near future."
"To me, he didn't show much in the trials over the Polytrack, but Bruce told me he was a stayer and in this race tonight, to ride him like one," Nunes said.
"He was always travelling very comfortably and when I took him out he finished it off very well. He's done a good job first-up over 1400m especially as he had 58kgs on his back."
Star Choice is a graduate of Trelawney Stud's 2013 NZB draft where he sold for $85,000.
Placed from three starts in New Zealand for Tony Pike, the Starcraft four-year-old scored in a $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, coming from a midfield spot in transit to produce the best finish inside the last 300m.
Ridden by Manoel Nunes, Star Choice defeated Mr Streisand by a length with Falkirk Lead third.
Star Choice had two barrier trials before making his Kranji debut, running fourth and third respectively.
"It was a lovely trial considering he ran over a bit of a distance with blinkers in New Zealand," said Marsh.
"On that trial and his work, I gave him a chance and I'm not that surprised he won tonight.
"It's good for the owners. Viviano is another one who won first-up for them.
"Hopefully, they send more horses to us in the near future."
"To me, he didn't show much in the trials over the Polytrack, but Bruce told me he was a stayer and in this race tonight, to ride him like one," Nunes said.
"He was always travelling very comfortably and when I took him out he finished it off very well. He's done a good job first-up over 1400m especially as he had 58kgs on his back."
Star Choice is a graduate of Trelawney Stud's 2013 NZB draft where he sold for $85,000.