Though it may not be a tried and tested method yet, champion trainer Laurie Laxon will be taking Sunday newcomer Alonso along the same Derby path he has been plotting for some of his previous tried New Zealand imports in the past.
Laxon boasts two Emirates Singapore Derby winners to his name, Dreyfuss in 2004 and Top Spin in 2008, but neither, however, came under that category. Dreyfuss, a son of Oregon, who also sired the great Ouzo, does hail from New Zealand, but came to Singapore unraced just like Top Spin, who was moreover an Australian-bred by Arena.
With the eight-time Singapore champion trainer a notable and surprising absentee in last year's Derby, his most recent example of a Kiwi-bred specially acquired with the crown jewel of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge in mind was Dujardin two years ago.
Known as Chalaev in New Zealand, Dujardin already shares a few things in common with Alfonso, with both having been prepared by Te Kauwhata trainer Tony Cole before being both talent-scouted by Laxon's main bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo.
A two-time winner over 1400m and 1600m at Ruakaka and Ellerslie respectively, Dujardin made a promising Singapore debut for his new owner, the Oscar Racing Stable, with two wins at Kranji, but found Chase Me too good in the Derby, running a distant fifth. But he has then gone on to stamp himself as a classy middle-distance performer for Laxon, notching two Group 3 wins in January, the New Year Cup (1900m) and Woodlands Classic Stakes (2000m).
Besides Dujardin, many other raced New Zealand-breds have plied the same Derby route for Laxon but have also come up short, such as Martin (did not run in the end after going amiss in the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Cup), Martial Art (2011, 8th), Hazza (2010, 8th) or Raudkivi, who actually completed a famous Laxon trifecta in that Derby won by Dreyfuss with West Australian Oaks winner Superior Star second.
One common link between Dreyfuss, Dujardin and Alfonso, who makes his Singapore debut in the $75,000 Graduation race over 1400m on Sunday, is their owner, Mr Phua Chian Kin of the Oscar Racing Stable.
Though Laxon would love nothing more than landing a third Derby for himself and for one of his staunchest supporters (Mr Phua also won with the Cliff Brown-trained Clint in 2011) in his 14 years at Kranji, he would like to see Alfonso get that first Kranji run under the belt instead of making any hasty plans towards the $1.15 million glamour race on July 13.
For a start, Laxon said the quarantine requirements had already been a speed bump for Alfonso, a Danroad four-year-old who was known as Ranfurly, a Pukekohe one-time winner from two New Zealand runs, and presumably renamed after Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron of Gravity fame.
“Phil Cataldo spotted him after he won his last race in New Zealand, when he ran the second fastest time than the other two divisions. He cost a bit of money, but we're glad we got him,” said Laxon shortly after Alfonso, his solitary runner at the Tuesday barrier trials, won the first heat (watch video of trial here) under rising apprentice jockey Kif Toh.
“I don't know Tony Cole that well, but he also trained Dujardin, and we hope this one (Alfonso) comes up as good.
“Like Dujardin, we bought him for the Derby, which, I have to say, will be a very strong race this year. But it's been a bit slow to get him going with all the vaccinations he had to pass.
“Anyway, he's ready and his first run in that Graduation race on Sunday will give us a better idea where he is at. I was pretty happy with his trial this morning, even though it was supposed to be a quiet trial, but they all seem to run for that boy!”
Toh has taken Kranji by storm since he made his riding debut on March 21, scoring at his very first ride aboard Leave Me Alone before bagging three more wins in 11 more rides. He was standing in for Laxon's apprentice Rueven Ravindra who hurt himself earlier after he was dislodged from a wayward Skywalker in an official race trial (ORT).
“Rueven's okay. He was a bit sore and went home to rest up, but he said he would be right to ride this weekend,” said assistant-trainer Shane Ellis.
Back from a double suspension, jockey Corey Brown takes the ride aboard Alfonso in the Graduation race where they will be up against a few tough customers, including stablemate Euro Zone, the unbeaten Wonderful Prince and My Brothers Keeper.
