Vraad (Shafiq Rizuan) makes winning look easy at Kranji.
New Zealand's Jamieson Park secured its first winner in Singapore when Vraad bolted away to an easy win on Friday.
Jamieson Park is a well-known Auckland breeder and is also a very active buyer of bloodstock both in New Zealand and Australia. Vraad, a well-bred son of Volksraad out of the Gone West mare Down View, is the first they race at Kranji and judging from his comfortable 2 ΒΌ-length win for fellow Kiwi trainer Mark Walker in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m, it is fair to believe he won't be the last.
Ridden by Shafiq Rizuan, Vraad ($52), who was at his third run after two unplaced runs over 1000m and 1200m, was a lot quicker out of the gates this time around, taking a seat behind leader White Shadow (Mohd Firdaus) before going for broke at the top of the straight. Clair De Lune (Manoel Nunes) ran on late but had to settle for second place two and a quarter length away with Trumps Up (Alan Munro) third another two lengths away.
The winning time was 1min 23.37secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Walker said Vraad did not begin his Singapore career under the most auspicious circumstances, but he has since made good.
"He's a nice horse but he's taken a long time to acclimatise," said the 2015 Singapore champion trainer and current leader on this year's ladder.
"Two weeks after he came, he pulled a muscle in his hindquarters and it was not even after any work. Not sure how he did it, but he's all good now.
"He's done a few things wrong, but we were patient with him. He's a nice scopy sort with more improvement to come out from him, and being by Volksraad, will be even better over more ground.
"He's the first horse the Jamieson Park has sent to us. They are very good breeders back home and let's hope there'll be more after this one."
Shafiq heaped even more praise on the winner who runs under the name of Jamieson Park's owner James Chapman. Vraad is the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey's third since his return from a one-month disqualification.
"I've watched the replay of the previous race and I thought it would be better if I go forward," said the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey.
"More so it hasn't rained and with the track on the firm side, I thought that would be the way to go. I was happy to sit in second place behind the leader.
"Since the last time I rode him at his last run over 1200m, he's kept improving and I thought he was fit for a 1400m race today. I had him under a good hold and he won easy in the end.
"I think he probably should run over this distance one more time before we step him up. He is still learning and is still green but once the penny drops, he should have a bright future here."
Jamieson Park is a well-known Auckland breeder and is also a very active buyer of bloodstock both in New Zealand and Australia. Vraad, a well-bred son of Volksraad out of the Gone West mare Down View, is the first they race at Kranji and judging from his comfortable 2 ΒΌ-length win for fellow Kiwi trainer Mark Walker in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1400m, it is fair to believe he won't be the last.
Ridden by Shafiq Rizuan, Vraad ($52), who was at his third run after two unplaced runs over 1000m and 1200m, was a lot quicker out of the gates this time around, taking a seat behind leader White Shadow (Mohd Firdaus) before going for broke at the top of the straight. Clair De Lune (Manoel Nunes) ran on late but had to settle for second place two and a quarter length away with Trumps Up (Alan Munro) third another two lengths away.
The winning time was 1min 23.37secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Walker said Vraad did not begin his Singapore career under the most auspicious circumstances, but he has since made good.
"He's a nice horse but he's taken a long time to acclimatise," said the 2015 Singapore champion trainer and current leader on this year's ladder.
"Two weeks after he came, he pulled a muscle in his hindquarters and it was not even after any work. Not sure how he did it, but he's all good now.
"He's done a few things wrong, but we were patient with him. He's a nice scopy sort with more improvement to come out from him, and being by Volksraad, will be even better over more ground.
"He's the first horse the Jamieson Park has sent to us. They are very good breeders back home and let's hope there'll be more after this one."
Shafiq heaped even more praise on the winner who runs under the name of Jamieson Park's owner James Chapman. Vraad is the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey's third since his return from a one-month disqualification.
"I've watched the replay of the previous race and I thought it would be better if I go forward," said the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey.
"More so it hasn't rained and with the track on the firm side, I thought that would be the way to go. I was happy to sit in second place behind the leader.
"Since the last time I rode him at his last run over 1200m, he's kept improving and I thought he was fit for a 1400m race today. I had him under a good hold and he won easy in the end.
"I think he probably should run over this distance one more time before we step him up. He is still learning and is still green but once the penny drops, he should have a bright future here."