Aushorse strikes gold

Singapore’s big weekend of international begins on the turf at Kranji on Friday with the Group 1 Singapore Guineas meeting that has a highlight event for Australia – the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) for two-year-olds, in which Australian-breds aim to complete their dominance of the seven-race series.

Australian-breds have won all six races run, underlining the diversity and value offered at Australian sales with their purchase prices ranging from $11,000 to $140,000.

Joint sponsors of the Golden Horseshoe with Aushorse are Inglis and Magic Millions, whose sales are always well-attended by buyers from Singapore and those who have Singapore in mind.

Series winners have been –

Race 1: Kaiser, by Seidnazar (2 wins, $137,890 prizemoney). Sold: Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $11,000 and on-sold as a 2YO at Magic Millions for $80,000.

Race 2: Cash Luck, by Bradbury’s Luck (1 win, $62,741). Sold: Magic Millions Gold Coast for $12,000.

Race 3: Dash For Win, by Dash For Cash (1 win, $41,805). Not offered as a yearling.

Race 4: Dark Matter, by Stratum (2 wins, $91,034). Sold: Magic Millions Premier Sale for $140,000.

Race 5: Kaiser.

Race 6: Dark Matter.

Singapore-based Australian trainer Michael Freedman (pictured), younger brother of champion Victorian trainer Lee Freedman, has been a key player in the series with Cash Luck and Dash For Win, and he may have a late entry in the final – Mr Big, an impressive debut winner in a Maiden 2YO last Friday. The Elusive Quality gelding won by just under nine lengths in just a tick outside the course record for the 1000m on the Polytrack surface.

On Sunday, Freedman will run Better Be The One (b g 4, More Than Ready (USA)-Common Smytzer, by Snippets) in the Group 1 KrisFlyer Sprint (120m), with Danny Beasley riding. Better Be The One won in Australia as Common Interest.

Freedman has had more than 140 wins since arriving in Singapore since April 2008. His best performance on the international stage was at Meydan in Dubai in March when Better Be The One, was third to J J The Jet Plane (since injured) in the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m).

KrisFlyer favourite Rocket Man (b g 5, Viscount-Macrosa (NZ), by McGinty (NZ)) won the Group 1 Golden Shaheen (1200m) at the same Dubai meeting.

South African Felix Coetzee won on Rocket Man in Dubai and will ride on Sunday. After a scintillating 1000m track gallop, covering the final 600m in 34.5 sec. under a tight rein at Kranji yesterday, the veteran jockey said: “You just can’t believe it. He just flies underneath you and you don’t know you’re running those sorts of times.

“It is the first time I have seen him since Dubai. He looks terrific and his coat is much better than what it was in Dubai. He is feeling terrific in himself also and I can’t ask for any more than that.”

The major headline at Kranji on Sunday is the $2.27 million Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m).

The barrier draw for both Group 1 races will be held tomorrow. The Golden Horseshoe field will be settled later today.