The stars of the 2018 Singapore racing season were honoured during Monday's Racing Appreciation Night at the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, with Karaka graduates claiming three titles.
Another top-class season, the 2016 Horse of the YearDebt Collector(NZ) (Thorn Park) was honoured with the prestigious Champion Miler and Champion Older Horse awards.
Purchased for $30,000 at the 2014 Select Sale and $120,000 at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale, Debt Collector has won 10 of his 21 starts for prizemoney of more than S$2.75 million – the equivalent of 25 times his Ready to Run Sale purchase price.
Trained by Cliff Brown for the Barree Stable, Debt Collector had three starts during 2018. After a first-up second in the S$200,000 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m), he recorded brilliant back-to-back wins in the S$1 million Raffles Cup (1600m) and S$1 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m).
Debt Collector was bred by Windsor Park Stud, who offered him at the Select Sale. He was secured by Michael Wallace, then returned to the Ready to Run Sale in the draft of Prima Park and was purchased by Cliff Brown Racing.
The Champion Three-Year-Old award went toMr Clint(NZ) (Power) who was purchased for $52,500 at the 2016 Select Sale and $95,000 at the Ready to Run Sale.
Owned by the Oscar Racing Stable and trained by Lee Freedman, Mr Clint has won four of his 11 starts and S$899,598 in stakes – more than 10 times his purchase price.
The highlight of Mr Clint's 2018 season came in May, when he scored an emphatic victory in the S$1 million Singapore Guineas (1600m). He also placed against older horses in the S$1.35 million Singapore Gold Cup (2000m).
Mr Clint was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, the former owners of Cambridge Stud, and he went through the Cambridge Stud draft at the Select Sale. He was secured by Stuart Hale, then went through Riversley Park's draft at the Ready to Run Sale and was purchased by Laurie Laxon.
NZB Release
