Lim's Prestige Makes Eight Derby Wins for NZB

Lim's Prestige Makes Eight Derby Wins for NZB

In a sensational fillip for the Karaka sale-ring, Singapore's Kranji racecourse played host to New Zealand Bloodstock's eighth individual Derby winner of the 2006 - 2007 season on Sunday.

From a field that boasted 10 New Zealand-bred horses of the 14 starters, it was Lim's Prestige (Pins x Stirling Jo) who burst through to record a comfortable one-length win in the prestigious S$1,000,000 Gr.1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) and add to New Zealand's incredible Derby winning streak.

With jockey Din Aziz aboard, Lim's Prestige led home a New Zealand bred quinella with fellow Karaka graduate World Delight (Mellifont x Lady Anne) in second place, and provided a first Group 1 victory for his delighted New Zealand ex-pat trainer Stephen Gray.

Lim's Prestige has been a consistent performer for his owner Mr Lim Siah Mong of Lim's Stable, scoring four wins and five placings from eleven starts. His latest win has pushed his career earnings past S$760,000.

World Delight, trained by another expatriate New Zealander Bruce Marsh, was an NZ$18,000 purchase by bloodstock agent Dean Wiles from Paramount Lodge at the 2004 Karaka Festival Sale.

Karaka graduates have had an outstanding record of Derby success this season. Setting a cracking example first was Efficient (Zabeel x Refused the Dance) (NZ$200,000, Karaka Premier Sale) winning the VRC Derby (2500m) last Spring in impressive style ahead of fellow Karaka graduate Gorky Park (Montjeu x Steluta).

Then came Currigee (Danewin x Hi Queen) (NZ$100,000, Karaka Premier Sale) with a win in the Tasmanian Derby (2200m) in February. In March Vital King (Almutawakel x Wauwinet) (NZ$38,000, Karaka Select Sale) won the prestigious Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and Guyno (O'Reilly x River Century) claimed the West Australia Derby (2400m).

Then came Fiumicino (Zabeel x Latte) (NZ$425,000, Karaka Premier Sale) to steal another of Australia's most prestigious classic races with a win in the AJC Derby (2400m), and just a day later the bargain buy of the selection Ka Lam Fortune (My Halo x Winkum) (NZ$5,500, South Island Sale) stamped New Zealand's mark in Macau with his win in the Macau Derby (1800m).

Last month Empire's Choice (Redoute's Choice x Rosie's Star) (NZ$210,000, Karaka Premier Sale) became the seventh Derby winning graduate for New Zealand Bloodstock with his race-winning sprint home in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

Sunday's Singapore Derby winner, Lim's Prestige, is the sixteenth stakes winner for his Waikato Stud sire Pins (by Snippets). Bred by Te Awamutu's Elizabeth Pollard under her Rosehill Farm banner, he was sold as a yearling at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale to Doug Rawnsley for NZ$16,000. Former champion jockey Mick Dittman then purchased Lim's Prestige at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale for NZ$47,000 from Janine Dunlop's Phoenix Park.

Other Karaka graduates to win at Kranji on Sunday include Nice and Easy (Align x Duet), King Fury (Viking Ruler x Stylish Malt), Manuka (Prized x Breath of Life), Lucky Dip (Flying Spur x Logical Lady), Blue Angel (My Halo x Showtimecanterbury), and Ole Jos (Stark South x Dans'ore) in the final race on the card.

New Zealand's National Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale takes place at Karaka this Sunday 22 July from 10am. For catalogues or information contact recp@nzb.co.nz.

Singapore Winning NZB Grads Week Ending 15.07.07

ENDS

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