Singapore series a boost for breeders

The announcement by the Singapore Turf Club and Aushorse that they are joining forces to produce a seven-race series with bonuses for Australian-bred 2YOs in Singapore in 2011 is a welcome boost for the Australian breeding industry.

It will heighten Singaporean interest in Australian-bred yearlings with speed pedigrees in 2011 (for the 2012 series), especially horses in the low-to-middle price range, which is the appealing buying range for Singapore trainers and owners.

The Australian selling companies, Inglis and Magic Millions, will participate in the series by offering bonuses of $S25,000 and $S30,000 (alternately in the first four races) to winners bought at Australian yearling sales. Aushorse provides the bonus for the other three races.

The series will start in February with a $S100,000 race over 1000m on the Polytrack, with the Australian bred and sold horses racing for a $S25,000 bonus.

If any of the first six races are won by a horse not bred in Australia or not sold at any of the yearling sales, the bonus will jackpot to be added to the $S75,000 on offer as the bonus for the seventh race of the series, the $S400,000 Group 2 Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m), run on the turf  at Kranji in May.

The series also gives incentive for Australian trainers and owners to speculate on yearlings at the sales with the principle objective of preparing them for the Singapore buying market. Horses eligible for the bonuses will be in high demand, especially as the 2011 series, starting in February, was announced after the last Australian yearling was sold at the Magic Millions National Sale on Gold Coast on Monday.

Of course, with a wealth of Australian trainers based in Singapore, and rules that allow Australians to race in Singapore, the opportunity is there for Australian yearling buyers to consider sending their horses to Singapore to race.

Total sum for the series will be $S1 million made up as follows:

a)     Inglis race in February – $S100,000 ($S75,000 base stake plus $S25,000 bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack

b)     Magic Millions race in February – $S100,000 ($S75,000 base stake plus $S25,000 bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack

c)     Inglis  race in March – $S75,000 ($S55,000 base stake plus $S20,000 bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack

d)     Magic Millions race in March – $S75,000 ($S55,000 base stake plus $S20,000 bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack

e)     Australian sponsored race in April – $S125,000 ($S95,000 base stake plus $S30,000 bonus) over 1200 metres on turf

f)       Australian sponsored race in April – $S125,000 ($S95,000 base stake plus $S30,000 bonus) over 1200 metres on turf

g)     Singapore Group 2 Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe in May – $S400,000 ($S325,000 base stake plus $S75,000 bonus) over 1200 metres on turf

NOTE: the Singapore dollar is worth about 80 cents Australian.

Pictured: The Australian-bred Rocket Man (by Viscount) is the top rated horse in Singapore.