Drakenstein Stud’s successful resident sire Philanthropist had another weekend to remember-highlighted by son Singapore Sling putting up a superb effort in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, Singapore Sling conquered all but the winner Ping Hai Star in the Derby.
The Drakenstein Stud bred gelding went down by under two lengths when beaten into second place in the Derby, with Singapore Sling accounted for former G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third Exultant, G1 Queensland Derby hero Ruthven, German 2000 Guineas second Lockheed and G1 Racing Post Trophy victor Rivet.
The Tony Millard trained four-year-old is now well established as one of Hong Kong’s top racehorses. Singapore Sling has now won or finished second in all of the Hong Kong Classic Cup, Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Mile and the 2016 G2 Investec Dingaans winner looks on track for a very bright future in Hong Kong.
His trainer said after the run, ““Singapore Sling ran a great race, I was really happy with him. He beat all the other horses that he’d run with and this was a fresh horse coming in. He had everything dead except for this horse (Ping Hai Star).”
Singapore Sling, who was produced by the Western Winter mare Sing Dixie Sing, was a R225 000 buy from the 2015 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
Philanthropist enjoyed a notable double at Turffontein on Saturday, with his 3yo daughters Make Me Happy and Melinda’s Garden both winning their respective races. The Maine Chance Farms bred Make Me Happy romped to a facile maiden win for trainer Mike de Kock, while her paternal half-sister Melinda’s Garden scored in the very next race for trainer Corne Spies!
North America’s Leading All Weather Sire in 2014, Philanthropist has quickly established himself as a high class sire in South Africa.
His first crop produced eight stakes horses, headed by graded stakes winners Singapore Sling and She’s A Giver, while Philanthropist’s second crop includes G1 Investec Cape Derby third, and Vodacom Durban July hope, Pack Leader.
The regally bred son of Kris S has 14 yearlings on the April Yearling Sale and 13 yearlings on next month’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.