australia - ANZ Bloodstock News

6 SINGAPORE NEwS
The New Zealand-bred debutant Oriental Pearl (Darci
Brahma) made an impressive start to his racing career
with victory in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1200m
on Friday night, writes Craig Brennan.
Ridden by Greg Cheyne, Oriental Pearl ($17) scored by one-andthree-quarter
lengths from OM (Darci Brahma) with Fei Yue (Pyrus)
two-and-a-half lengths away third.
A son of Darci Brahma (Danehill), Oriental Pearl jumped straight
to the front from his inside barrier and defied the opposition to run
him down.
Trainer Michael Clements said he had some concerns with
Oriental Pearl on the soft rated 5.7 track but the gelding handled the
track perfectly.
“He went on the turf last Saturday morning down the back
straight and handled it without a worry,” said Clements.
“I did have a bit of concern with the rain this afternoon but he got
through it OK.
“We gave him the one trial in the lead-up and we did think about
another but thought he was forward enough.
“He’s shown me a lot right from when he first arrived here and
hopefully he can keep it going.
“I still think there’s improvement to come from him as he doesn’t
take a lot of work and the race experience will do him the world of
good.”
Clements purchased Oriental Pearl for NZ$50,000 at last year’s
New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and returned again
during the week where he purchased another Darci Brahma twoyear-old
at this year’s sale.
“The Darci Brahma’s seem to go better here than what they do
back in New Zealand and Australia,” said Clements.
“They have a temperament that is suited to the conditions here
in Singapore. I believe he had a great temperament and it is showing
through in his stock here.”
Cheyne described Oriental Pearl as a “nice horse” who should be
able to go on to bigger and better things.
He added that he can react to something new and the gelding
played up as he left the parade ring on the way to the start before
the race.
“Everytime he does something new for the first time he reacts
to it,” said Cheyne. “But he jumped out and raced like an older horse.
“I’ve been on him most mornings and I have seen him come on
all the time. He keeps improving all the time and is a ready made
racehorse.
“He only had the one trial and we did consider giving him another
one but eventually thought he was ready to come to the races.
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Saturday 24 November 2012 ANZ
singapore news
Oriental Pearl Scores Debut Win
Oriental Pearl SINGAPORE TURF CLUB
“He’s a nice horse and has a nice future ahead of himself.”
The three-year-old Oriental Pearl is out of the Deputy Minister (Vice
Regent) mare Paint Me A Dream, a half sister to the USA Grade One
winner and sire Honour And Glory (Relaunch). His dam, the unraced
Fair To All (Al Nasr), is a half sister to the triple Grade One winner
Ogygian (Damascus) and the stakes winner Lookinforthebigone
(State Dinner). Oriental Pearl is raced by the Florida Stable.
The runner-up, Om, is also by Darci Brahma, and is a half brother
to the former Champion three and four-year-old Better Than Ever
(French Deputy), who has returned to New Zealand to continue his
racing career.
KRANJI (SNG) SOFT
R1: CLASS 5 (1), $35000, 1400m.
1. CARNIVAL STAR (NZ) (5 ch g Captain Rio (GB) - Avatcha
(FR)). T: Rb Marsh J: S Baster
2. Testing Time (AUS) (4 br g Testa Rossa (AUS) - So Divine
(GB)).
3. Spirit Nature (AUS) (5 br g Dane Shadow (AUS) - Visage
(AUS)).
Margins: 0.5 lens, 0.2 lens. Time: 1:25.74.
EDITORIAL editor@anzbloodstocknews.com