It is rare to find a galloper capable of being able to compete at three International meetings, let alone four during their career.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
But local galloper Waikato, a member of Kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon's Kranji stable, will go one better as he will be lining-up for his fifth run at the Singapore International meeting on Sunday.
A rising nine-year-old, Waikato will be lining-up for his third straight S$3 million Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m, in itself an amazing feat, but also comes on top of having previously contested two Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprints over 1200m as a younger horse.
As a four-year-old Waikato finished fourth to Takeover Target in the 2008 KrisFlyer before again finishing fourth the following year behind Sacred Kingdom.
Laxon then switched Waikato to the 2000m of the SIA Cup, finishing fourth to Lizard's Desire in 2010 before reaching a career high with his dead-heat for third behind Gitano Hernando last year.
The Waikato story dates back to January 2005 when Laxon parted with NZ$50,000 to purchase the son of Pins as a yearling in New Zealand.
Being a December foal and having not long turned one, Laxon intended giving the youngster some time to develop before eventually breaking him in, but there was a communication mix-up and the yearling was broken in without his permission.
“I thought I would give him a bit of time to grow and develop a bit more before it was time to think about breaking him in,” said Laxon.
“But somewhere along the way there was a bit of a mix-up and he ended up going to the breakers.
“Being such a young horse he ended up developing a cyst on one of his hind legs that needed to be scrapped.
“He then had to be rested for three months after the operation and in the end I couldn't sell him, so I kept him myself and he's turned out to be a great money spinner.”
When Waikato eventually found his way to Singapore, Laxon elected to give the gelding a bit more time and sent him to the spelling stables and at the same time almost forgot about him.
And it was probably the best thing Laxon could have done as it allowed the gelding to develop and get over all his ailments.
“When he first came here I didn't have room for him so I put him down at the spelling stables,” said Laxon. “As I owned him myself I pretty much left him down there and forgot about him. It was probably a blessing in disguise.
“When I did decide to bring him up to the main stable he showed me quite a deal of ability from day one, but he was also a fractious type of horse and would sweat up.
“When it was time to have his first start I was going to back him, but when he came into the mounting yard he was sweating quite badly and I couldn't back him.
“But he did the job anyway and nowadays he's in complete control of himself.”
Ironically that victory, by four-and-a-half lengths in a Restricted Maiden, came on May 19, 2007, one day before the running of the 2007 SIA Cup won by Shadow Gate.
Waikato was kept to sprinting early in his career as Laxon felt he was immature and too weak to contest a longer journey but he eventually strengthened up to run a trip.
“I have had some success with sprinters that were turned into stayers,” said Laxon.
“Recast (a Singapore Gold Cup winner and runner-up in a SIA Cup) and Raul (also a Singapore Gold Cup winner) were sprinters when they came to me but proved good stayers.
“So long as they can relax in their races then you can train them to run a trip and if they get a good run they run well.”
Laxon described Waikato as an old marvel and completely sound and the type of horse that a month after the SIA Cup could freshen up to be competitive in a sprint race.
“He's a happy horse without any bad bones in his body,” said Laxon. “He just loves being a racehorse.”
