Nine years after her resounding success in the Singapore Gold Cup, popular mare Zirna will see her very first progeny go around the same venue of her 2003 triumph on Friday night, Raziyya Of Sydney.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Though the bred-in-the-purple four-year-old mare by Australian champion sire Redoute’s Choice was foaled in Australia, she was bred in New Zealand by the famous Westbury Stud, the same connections who raced her Malcolm Thwaites-trained dam in Singapore.
Both mother and daughter took their first steps in racing in New Zealand, but while Zirna came to Singapore with a more accomplished record including a Group 1 win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders Stakes, Raziyya Of Sydney would have probably slipped under the radar if not for her link to her famous mother.
After a brilliant racing career that also saw her capture the Group 1 Raffles Cup besides the Gold Cup, Zirna (x Deputy Governor) proved a hit as a broodmare producing Group 3 ATC Adrian Knox winner Crafty Irna, and two-time winning Zabeel mare La Siroque.
Trainer Michael Freedman, who was not around during Zirna’s reign at Kranji, is, however, trusting his own eyes before passing any judgement on the newcomer, who will be unveiled in Friday’s last race, the $55,000 Class 4 (Division 2) race over 1200m.
“She’s by Redoute’s Choice, but I was told her dam was a Gold Cup winner here. Her racing in New Zealand was geared towards staying races such as the Oaks,” said Freedman, who currently sits atop the Singapore trainer’s premiership on 59 wins, three clear of Steven Burridge.
“You’d expect Friday’s race would be too short for her, but as she’s a gross mare, I wanted to get her going and then step her up in distance and fitness.
“I did see replays of her races in New Zealand. When she got up over a mile, she seemed reasonably competitive, especially against the fillies in New Zealand.
“She didn’t wear blinkers back home, but I noticed she was a little more focused when I put them on in a trial here. I just wanted her to have a nice solid gallop from a fitness point of view and she’ll wear them on Friday.”
Prepared in New Zealand by Jason Bridgman (who took charge of training at Te Akau Racing after Mark Walker left New Zealand for Singapore in 2010), Raziyya Of Sydney raced four times for one win (1600m) at Te Rapa and one second (1400m) from four starts. At her last run on February 11, she ran eighth to Zurella in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Stakes (2000m).
With still plenty to prove, what does single her out, though, is her new owner. Mark Read is one of Australia’s foremost bookmakers and is following into the footsteps of other racing identities from Down Under to have recently invested in Singapore racing such as Gerry Harvey (Codigo), Nathan Tinkler (Honest Truth) and Segenhoe Stud (Texan Takeover).
“I’ve known Mark for many years, and he did tell me before I came to Singapore he would send me a horse to train here one day,” recalled Freedman.
“He does not have as many horses as he used to as he is so busy with his work, but Mark has always been particularly keen on the Asian racing industry.
“He rang me recently and told me he has a mare who could measure up in the staying races here.”
To be ridden by jockey Jose Verenzuela, Raziyya Of Sydney has drawn barrier No 1 and will face a rather tame opposition which includes the likes of Kallisan, Jeram Glory and Teen Angel, all runners who have not visited the winner’s circle in a while, but Freedman is still playing safe in his assessment of the mare’s first-up chances.
“She is fit enough, but I think she will need the run and will probably get better when we step her up over more ground,” said Freedman.
The Australian handler will however hold three aces in Sunday’s feature, the Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) – Mr Big, Better Be The One and Always Certain, especially the former who took out the Group 3 Woodlands Handicap (1200m) on Polytrack at his last outing on August 19.
“They’re all going well. Always Certain will find this too short but I’m hopeful he can come back in form,” he said.
“Better Be The One’s joints issues are no secret. It’s just a management issue, but I was very happy with his work on Tuesday.
“We’ve tried to vary his work by not working him as much under saddle. He’s been doing a lot of swimming.
“Obviously Mr Big is the main chance, but barrier 14 from 14 is not ideal. But I’m really happy with him as he’s holding his form and should run a good race.”
Freedman will be guided by Sunday’s outing to gain a better idea of a possible tilt at the Hong Kong riches he has pencilled in for Mr Big in December.
“There is still plenty of water to go under the bridge before we decide on a trip to Hong Kong. I’ll see how he goes on Sunday first,” he said.
“If we do go there, that lead-up race to the Hong Kong Sprint (Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint on November 18) would be an option to see where he sits. The entries close on October 24 and I will definitely enter him.”
Freedman is also nominating Super Easy for the corresponding lead-up race for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile on December 9, the Jockey Club Mile.
