Posted On: Monday, 21 July 2008
A successful operation for a stifle cyst as a young horse has paved the way for New Zealand-bred galloper Waikato to make his mark on the Singapore racing scene.
Waikato confirmed his class with his fine win in the S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A (1200m) at Kranji last Friday night.
Waikato was sold by Hamilton-based Highview Stud on behalf of his breeder, Morrie McLeod at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales at Karaka for $50,000. The successful purchaser was champion Singapore-based Kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon.
However, subsequently when being broken in the son of Pins went lame.
Highview Stud's Brent Gillovic recalled: "He was found to have a stifle cyst which was operated on and he subsequently retured to full soundness. In the meantime I think I am correct in saying that Laurie (Laxon) decided not to on-sell him to his clients and retained him to race himself. What a great decision that has been with the stakes that Waikato has earned."
Drawn wide in barrier nine in Friday night's contest and carrying a 59.5kg steadier, Waikato (NZ) took up a handy position throughout and when called upon by pilot Saimee Jumaat produced a never say die effort to nab victory on the line by a head.Waikato (NZ), who won the Gr.3 Singapore Four-Year-Old sprint in January, has now achieved 10 wins and four placings from his 17 career starts, a record netting approximately NZ$659,965 in earnings."Looks like he'll be the top weight in his next races now. It's going to get harder for him," said Laxon."I may have to pick out weight-for-age races for him, like the Jumbo Jet Trophy."
The Jumbo Jet Trophy is a Group 3 event to be run over 1400m on September 5."I would have much preferred to keep him to 1200m races but I don't have much of a choice," added Laxon. "He's got sprint genes in his pedigree as his grandmother was a Golden Slipper winner, Vivarchi."The Golden Slipper is the richest two-year-old race in the world and is run over 1200m at Rosehill in Sydney, Australia.
